AIKEN -- Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt fired a county detention officer Monday morning after an investigation found that the deputy had purchased beer for an underage neighbor.
William J. Morrissey, 35, of New Ellenton, is accused of buying beer in Aiken on Thursday for 18-year-old Kenneth A. Spoonemore.
Later that night, "Mr. Morrissey contacted the sheriff's office saying that he believed there was alcohol and drug use going on in the home and that a small child was present," sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank said.
Deputies did not find a child, but they found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and the beer, Lt. Frank said.
During the course of the investigation, the department learned that Mr. Morrissey had bought the beer earlier that day.
Mr. Spoonemore was arrested on charges of simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and minor in possession of beer. Also arrested was Casey E. Busbee, 20, of New Ellenton, on charges of minor in possession of beer.
The sheriff has asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate the allegations involving Mr. Morrissey, who has been employed with the sheriff's office since August 2004.
South Carolina law makes it a misdemeanor to give beer or wine to a person under 21. A conviction carries up to a $300 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Comments
If Mr Morrissey bough the beer and then ratted out the kids, he's too stupid to be a deputy. If, on the other hand, the kids just SAID Mr Morrissey made the purchase (as payback for the bust) then he's just got to ride this out. If the sheriff fired Mr Morrissey, I feel there's evidence besides just hearsay.
How about we put him in a structured military-like environment? That'll make him all better.
I believe the reason South Carolina has an underage drinking problem is the conviction....A MISDEMEANOR? I think this should be a FELONY charge!
Where did you find that information out, that South Carolina has a underage drinking problem, I would like to read that.I agree with PT but I would say underage drinking has been around for decades, I did it.... not bragging but stating facts and I would be willing to bet YOU even did it Melissa
Something about this story doesn't smell right.
This has got to be the stupidest deputy ever!!!
You can die for your country but you can't have a beer. Makes no sense
Is there ANY credible law enforcement in Aiken? How corrupt is it there anyway?
johnson... I agree. However, the law is the law and this cop should have known better than break it. Besides I would be willing to bet that non of these pot heads would be willing to defend anything other than their stash!
johnson, I agree with you completely. I went into army at 17 years old. I was trained to kill, but wasn't able to buy beer. I couldn't even vote. As for as the deputy being fined $300, I know of a merchant that recently sold a beer to a minor and his fine was $500 and possbile loss of license to sale beer. The deputy's fine seems lenient compared to a merchant losing his means of support.
You can be married and have kids at 18 and couldn't even buy a beer if you wanted to.
Hell... maybe we should get this cop to guy them some dope too. What the hell... it's just illegal.
I see the arrests, pocession of alcohol underage, in the paper every Saturday also arrests for contributing to minor. I know a lot of kids purchase beer with fake id's. Yes I drank alcohol but the age to purchase beer was 18 then as it should be now! I never had anyone buy it for me when I was underage.
I totally agree with you Dani. This thing has all the stink of more that one underhanded official. Is this man shown on videotape purchasing the beer and even if so, who's to say who he purchased it for. Why would these not want to accuse him? Sounds like a set-up to me.
What I want to know is (and this is of the subject) Mr. Hunt needs to investigate some of his officers, I know there is more going on with this agency then told. I know of a LT that has not paid his taxes and has lied on them.
If it is true that the deputy bought the alcohol for the minors I am sure that he will be facing more than a conviction and a fine. Most likely he will lose his job also. However, I am hoping that the teenagers made this story up to get back at the deputy. You would have to be pretty stupid to purchase alcohol for minor's then call the police on them...especially if you are a deputy. But, I have seen people do things that were more stupid.
Great episode of dumb crook news
this story should have been in the "news of the weird section of the paper'' lolololololol how damn dumb do you have to be ? if that's the case then anybody can be a modern day " barney fife''lololol tighten up aiken county or else richmond county will end up patroleing over their for too.,lolololololol. just down right stupid.
Why is it that the dumbest acts happen in this part of the country. We are a nation of over 300 million people, scattered all over the land, bounded by the Pacific ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic ocean. When it comes to the absurdly stupid, we all seem to excel. Good job fellow Southerners !!!
To Melissa... Why in the world would you want minor-in-possesion to be a FELONY ??? Do you have any idea what a felony conviction entails ?? Never own a gun, never vote, never hold elected office, and more goodies. All this for drinking a beer underage???? Glad you aint my mammy.
Common-sense????justice.....If you read the last paragraph in the above article it's a misdemeanor to GIVE beer or wine to a person under age 21. Glad you're not my child!
Whats upsetting is that sheriff hunt has no qualms firing deputies rightfully or not, but yet hires personal friends in the department whom had complaints filled against them including theft by deception for monies in the amount of 1000.00 and other law violations. When those complaints where filed he appointed an investigating officer to investigate those allegations. Guess what the investigating officer was also a long time friend of the accused. The good old boys syndrome is alive and well within the ACSO. Maybe SLED should look at Hunt OOPs I forgot they are also part of the good old boys.
Price you pay for hiring people just to write speeding tickets.
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