Former SC sheriff charged with domestic violence at his home

By JEFFREY COLLINS 05 February 2020, 12:00AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina sheriff who pleaded guilty to stealing public money last month was arrested at his home and charged with criminal domestic violence.

Former Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone spent Monday night at the jail in neighboring Darlington County, charged with first-degree criminal domestic violence and violation of probation.

Boone avoided prison time when he was sentenced for embezzlement and misconduct in office on Jan. 8. But the judge held a five-year prison sentence over his head if he couldn't complete five years of probation.

Florence County deputies said they were called to Boone's home near Florence on Monday. They turned the case over to the State Law Enforcement Division, which confirmed Boone's arrest but did not release any other details.

Boone, 53, faces up to 10 years in prison of convicted of first-degree criminal domestic violence. The felony charge has several different components, including violating an order of protection, using a gun to threaten someone, committing violence in the presence of a minor or preventing a victim from getting to a cellphone to call for help.

Boone's attorney on the previous charges did not return a phone and text message from The Associated Press.

Boone became the 10th South Carolina sheriff to be convicted of crimes in office in the past decade when he pleaded guilty last month. His five-year prison sentence was suspended to the time he spent in jail being booked on the charges. Prosecutors did not ask for prison time at his plea.

The former sheriff admitted he used $17,000 in Florence County funds and drug seizure money to buy groceries, window tinting and other personal items. His own chief deputy called state agents to investigate his boss.

Court records showed Boone shopped at places like Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, Mainstream Boutique and Rapid Weight Loss.

Boone was ordered to pay back the $17,000, and if he did, his probation could have been shortened to 18 months.

Before he was sentenced, Boone apologized for taking the money, saying politics were tough and pressure-filled and he made some bad choices.

“It's a new day. I feel great. There's no doubt that I will be a better citizen — be better for the people of Florence County. And being the person that I was leading up to before this incident happened,” Boone said at his sentencing.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP

By JEFFREY COLLINS 05 February 2020, 12:00AM

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