Former Pee Dee Sheriff Acquitted in Excessive Force Federal Trial

In a recent development, Charles Lemon, a former sheriff from Marlboro County of Pee Dee region, was found not guilty by a jury after a federal trial that lasted nearly a week. The former sheriff was charged with deprivation of civil rights for allegedly ordering one of his deputies to excessively use a Taser on an inmate. He expressed his gratitude and relief once the trial was over, repeatedly thanking the divine powers for his acquittal.

Underlying events leading to the trial

Back in May 2020, Jarrel Johnson was captured by deputies after allegations of him violently assaulting his father with an aluminum bat surfaced. Lemon claimed that Johnson attacked him at the Marlboro County Detention Center, leading him to order a deputy to Tase Johnson multiple times. This incident was recorded via body camera, forming a crucial part of the evidence.

Contentions by the Prosecution

During the course of the trial, the prosecution tactically scrutinized Lemon’s training record. Various witnesses confirmed that the sheriff’s office had not delineated a specific policy for Taser usage, although other policies such as social media usage were clarified regularly. A representative from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy provided noteworthy evidence, revealing that law enforcement officers are told during training that they can only use a Taser on someone three times. It was contested that Johnson was subjected to the Taser shock six times in violation of this directive.

An unauthorized Taser instructor

The prosecution also brought forward a master Taser instructor and a lieutenant from the State Law Enforcement Division who revealed that Lemon was never Taser certified. By implication, he wasn’t authorized to command the deputy to utilize the Taser.

Defense Stances and Strategies

Lemon’s defense attorneys, on the other hand, argued that Johnson, being accused of a violent crime, presented them with little choice other than the use of a Taser to restrain him. They called upon Ray Nash Jr., a law enforcement consultant, to testify. Nash asserted that Lemon was entirely within his rights to order the deployment of the Taser six times, maintaining it as the only way for deputies to potentially achieve compliance in the situation.

Lemon’s historical context

Demonstrating his personal attachment to the case, Lemon even shared his prior associative history with the Johnson family. He claimed to have been friends with Johnson’s father for over 34 years and had known the family well. Lemon argued that he resorted to a stern approach due to Johnson’s deliberate refusal to enter the jail cell.

A Clean Slate for the Former Sheriff

In the end, Lemon was acquitted by the jury of the single charge he faced after an hour of deliberation. With the state charges dropped back in March by South Carolina’s Attorney General’s Office, Lemon’s record is now clear.