One of the committee members told the law firm, “Mr. In fact, County Council had asked the state attorney general to investigate Stuart's unauthorized spending more than a year before prosecutors charged the former sheriff's deputy with selling meth out of his county car and conspiring to steal catalytic converters off county vehicles. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11. You have permission to edit this article. He grew up in Chester, S.C., and is a 2015 graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Honors College. A month later, Stuart steered $39,000 in back pay to Underwood’s wife, Chester County Chief Magistrate Angel Underwood, for the year she was suspended by the S.C. Supreme Court over ethics conflicts. Despite ethics probe, SC magistrate will remain Chester's chief judge, Test your knowledge of this week's headlines with our news quiz, SC doctors, nursing professor charged as part of federal investigation into Medicare fraud, Retailers, restaurants line up for new shopping center coming to Nexton in Berkeley County, 'Outer Banks' creator apologizes for disruptive filming, compensates Mount Pleasant residents, Early voting opened in SC Monday with widespread interest across the state, Popular nightspot in Clemson perfect place for football players to escape, Where to vote early or absentee in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, History for Sale: Built in the 1930s, this 5-bedroom Myrtle Beach beach house has modern marvel, SC congressional candidate Nancy Mace's car vandalized in Mount Pleasant, Chipotle headed to Goose Creek; another Mexican restaurant slated for James Island, Charleston official says COVID-19 spread is 'very, very low'; SC logs over 500 cases. “It’s painful to see our community having to endure another negative headline," he wrote. Dorsey replaced the previous sheriff, Alex Underwood. [10] In terms of ancestry, 19.9% were American, 7.5% were Irish, 5.6% were English, and 5.1% were German. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km2). Winds light and variable.. A few clouds. [13], Chester county operates on an industrial and agriculture community, with much land area in timber production. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He remembers how Stuart built a friendly rapport with students and encouraged them to avoid gangs and drugs. But he quickly reapplied for his job. Avery G. Wilks is an investigative reporter based in Columbia. Wilson's office said it could not comment on that request. “It seems so out of character," LeMay said. At his bail hearings, prosecutors said investigators witnessed Stuart selling methamphetamine out of his county car, which they he reportedly used for deals because there was less chance he would be pulled over. File/Gavin McIntyre/Staff, Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey poses for a photo inside his office at the Chester County Law Enforcement Complex on Tuesday Oct. 8, 2019. CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - Deputies are looking into reports of suspicious white marks left on vehicles in Chester County. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. In July 2017, Darby’s office became concerned when Stuart quietly tried to steer a $3,250 county payment for social media consulting to a just-created company called Zu Mogul Media. October 7, 2020 at 12:14 AM EDT - Updated October 7 at 12:16 AM, Clint Bowyer to retire and move to Fox NASCAR coverage in 2021, Convicted felon arrested for alleged involvement in Charlotte bank robbery, Iredell County residents scramble to register to vote ahead of deadline, Rapper Tory Lanez charged with shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Trump to host ‘largest radio rally in history’ on The Rush Limbaugh Show, Cooper appoints new NC elections board pick after withdrawal. Last month, Hembree was charged along with Stuart as a co-conspirator in the alleged meth trafficking operation. When Darby approached Stuart about the potential conflict of interest, Stuart stood down and allowed the contract to be canceled. All rights reserved. And some see Stuart's rocky tenure as evidence that Chester's unusual government structure — in which an elected, but sometimes unqualified, "supervisor" runs the county instead of a professional administrator — needs to change. “It’s never worked," said Chester County Councilman Alex Oliphant. Hembree immediately left the scene “at a high rate of speed” and would later say he didn’t know he had hit anything, according to a Sumter-based law firm that County Council hired to investigate the incident. awilks@postandcourier.com, Chester County supervisor arrested, charged with drug trafficking and misconduct, Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood and deputies indicted on new corruption charges. Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. "They have too much authority, and you get stuck with them for four years unless they commit a felony. There were 12,880 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 18.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. This SC judge is married to the sheriff. Courtesy of the Chester News & Reporter, Traffic moves down Gadsden Street on Tuesday Oct. 8, 2019, in Chester. Low 66F. Stuart was annoyed, writing in emails that County Council had broken county ordinances in hiring the Sumter law firm to investigate the Hembree incident. County leaders are optimistic the recent turmoil is evidence Chester's longstanding problems are being rooted out, and that the county can change for the better. Other times, Stuart became combative when Darby questioned him, emails show. After running for office in 2014 as a reform candidate who would clean up government waste and halt infighting, Stuart repeatedly rehired a convicted felon against County Council’s wishes, quietly directed a lucrative social media contract to his roommate and approved tens of thousands of dollars in raises without council’s approval. tbartelme@postandcourier.com, By Joseph Cranney Officials at the Chester County Sheriff’s Office says they are aware that many people have noticed suspicious white dots on … Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Emails, purchase orders and other documents obtained by The Post and Courier show how Stuart regularly clashed in power struggles with County Council and sought to reward his friends and political allies at the taxpayers’ expense. One evening in April 2019, Hembree, Stuart and a handful of other county workers were leaving a Chester bar when Hembree backed his county animal control truck into a parked truck, causing some $900 in damage. The per capita income for the county was $17,687. “I’m not sure if you are saying the job I’m doing unlawful , unethical, unconstitutional or what? Browse Chester County, SC real estate. The racial makeup of the county was 59.93% White, 38.65% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Shane Stuart's tenure as Chester County's top elected official was fraught with allegations of improper spending and misuse of his powerful position even before the county … “He tried to do as much good as he possibly could,” Strother said. As of the 2010 census, its population was 33,140. “I thought it would be for other things other than that. 1 Julian Price Pl.Charlotte, NC 28208(704) 374-3500. Stuart promised to usher county government out of the 1970s and run an operation worthy of the public’s trust. Stuart’s fall from grace has been the talk of rural Chester County this week, prompting disbelief from some and questions from others wondering how many more scandals there are to uncover. The median age was 36 years. [citation needed], Coordinates: 34°41′N 81°10′W / 34.69°N 81.16°W / 34.69; -81.16, ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties, Municipalities and CDPs in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, South Carolina, "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990", "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Stuart, however, contended he didn't need their permission. The median age was 40.3 years. Former Chester County Supervisor Shane Stuart (right) talks with Lewisville High School Principal Dr. James Knox at Lewisville's graduation ceremony in June 2017. County Treasurer Tommy Darby questioned the payout, emails show. The charges were yet another black eye for this rural county of 32,000, prompting headshaking across the former textile stronghold that sits an hour north of Columbia on Interstate 77. After Stuart's arrest, they moved to quickly distance the county from its now-suspended supervisor. Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Post and Courier PO BOX 489. Males had a median income of $39,008 versus $27,701 for females. "That just wasn’t the Shane Stuart I knew.”. Its county seat is Chester. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males. About 18.6% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over. There were 14,374 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. “We are making Chester better.”. Meth — that was the part I was shocked about.”. “I was surprised that he stayed in office as long as he did without getting into some major trouble,” said Branham, who regularly battled with Stuart. Just four counties in South Carolina have a county supervisor. Officials have released few specifics about Stuart's alleged involvement in the meth trafficking operation.