Trips to Disney World, beauty pageant fees and charges at lingerie store Victoria’s Secret are among the numerous bizarre expenditures made by the Greenwood County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) over the last few years, according to a report in the local Index Journal newspaper.
According to the story – filed by reporters Scott J. Bryan and Chris Trainor – a review of “nearly 750 pages of documents” unearthed all sorts of inappropriate expenses. Among them? More than $11,000 for the Miss South Carolina competition and more than $12,000 for the Miss America pageant. Meanwhile more than $5,000 was spent on a company which makes pageant gowns. Among other travel expenses, the Index-Journal uncovered a $3,500 trip to Disney World – and another $5,000 trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Not only that, the Index-Journal report found nearly $30,000 worth of checks “written out to cash and signed by Sandi McAlister-Owens” and more than $80,000 worth of “electronic withdrawals for cash.”
Wow … somebody has been living high on the hog, people.
Owens was first named by FITS as a subject of the ongoing S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) probe into the GCSO (read our previous coverage of this scandal here and here).
According to our sources, SLED investigators have been probing irregularities in the Greenwood Sheriff’s 9-1-1 surcharge fund and “seized funds” account. Both of these funds – as well as other GCSO accounts – were referenced in the Index-Journal report.
Several of the accounts which boasted six figures a few short years ago have been completely drained …
In addition to Owens alleged involvement in the scandal, sources tell FITS Greenwood County Sheriff Tony Davis is “neck deep” in these irregularities, and more specifically that he “removed protocols” protecting each of these accounts from misuse.
Stay tuned …
42 comments
Is their Sheriff asking for a tax hike so he can hire more deputies?
That seems to be a common request these days. I wonder if this kind of financial mismanagement is the cause.
Is their Sheriff asking for a tax hike so he can hire more deputies?
That seems to be a common request these days. I wonder if this kind of financial mismanagement is the cause.
What is a 911 surcharge fund? Call 911 and get a bill?
Greenville takes a collective crap into the Reedy River, it flows through Laurens, they have a drink, take a crap, dump it into the Reedy where it flows to Greenwood. They drink up, take crap back into the Saluda and it eventually makes its way to Columbia where, well, you get the idea. Mountaintop living or bottled water – takes your pick.
I presume that they are still using Columbia water (filtered) to make a “name brand” bottled water…
I don’t remember whether it was the Coke plant or the Pepsi plant that was BIG in the business.
Phone (landline and mobile) bills have a 50 cent (I believe), per month, surcharge for 911. Most if not all of this money is supposed to go to local authorities for maintaining a 911 system.
That’s exactly correct. The surcharges are collected by the respective telco’s and get funnelled to each county’s 9-1-1 center. There are pretty tight state regs on how that money can be spent, primarily for a dedicated 9-1-1 director, hardware, IT infrastructure, etc.
What is a 911 surcharge fund? Call 911 and get a bill?
Greenville takes a collective crap into the Reedy River, it flows through Laurens, they have a drink, take a crap, dump it into the Reedy where it flows to Greenwood. They drink up, take crap back into the Saluda and it eventually makes its way to Columbia where, well, you get the idea. Mountaintop living or bottled water – takes your pick.
I presume that they are still using Columbia water (filtered) to make a “name brand” bottled water…
I don’t remember whether it was the Coke plant or the Pepsi plant that was BIG in the business.
Phone (landline and mobile) bills have a 50 cent (I believe), per month, surcharge for 911. Most if not all of this money is supposed to go to local authorities for maintaining a 911 system.
That’s exactly correct. The surcharges are collected by the respective telco’s and get funnelled to each county’s 9-1-1 center. There are pretty tight state regs on how that money can be spent, primarily for a dedicated 9-1-1 director, hardware, IT infrastructure, etc.
Looks like Owens’ daughter is the pageant queen.
http://www.scnow.com/living/article_2d016bb0-cd34-5c1e-941d-6af159f7d056.html
Nice sleuthing, GVL.
Looks like Owens’ daughter is the pageant queen.
http://www.scnow.com/living/article_2d016bb0-cd34-5c1e-941d-6af159f7d056.html
Nice sleuthing, GVL.
Looks like somebody’s goin to the pokey.
Looks like somebody’s goin to the pokey.
They need to lock up all thats connected to stealing this money,but i bet its like all our government ,nothing will happen. LET a regular citizen do this,you will be up the creek without a paddle. Like the council members they were investigating,have not heard anything, keeping it quiet,just sweep it under the rug and forget about it ! The government is getting more crooked than the crooks. We read about this kind of things going on more and more but what can the average person do ? You can not fight city hall ,And you sure do not want to go against the sherrif or his dept. Sled will not do anything they are not going up against another law agency and take them down.
They need to lock up all thats connected to stealing this money,but i bet its like all our government ,nothing will happen. LET a regular citizen do this,you will be up the creek without a paddle. Like the council members they were investigating,have not heard anything, keeping it quiet,just sweep it under the rug and forget about it ! The government is getting more crooked than the crooks. We read about this kind of things going on more and more but what can the average person do ? You can not fight city hall ,And you sure do not want to go against the sherrif or his dept. Sled will not do anything they are not going up against another law agency and take them down.
the 911 surcharge is to pay for necessary equipment and the 911 director…nothing more….I would like to see how much has been taken from that federal regulated account…Nobody deserves to get time more than she does and I can’t wait to see the she devil in orange!!! I don’t think her daughter would approve of her moms criminal behavior…
the 911 surcharge is to pay for necessary equipment and the 911 director…nothing more….I would like to see how much has been taken from that federal regulated account…Nobody deserves to get time more than she does and I can’t wait to see the she devil in orange!!! I don’t think her daughter would approve of her moms criminal behavior…
As I recall Sheriff Davis is a close friend of and endorsed Alan (little Joe) Wilson for Attorney General.
This will probably be swept under SLED’s rug, just like the lexington Ring, until the publicity gave Keel no choice, but to act on it.
Our Attorney General seems to have some very questionable and unsavory associates:
Nikki Haley, Danny Frazier, Bob Peeler, Randy Halfacre, amoung others.
First of all Davis is no big buddy with Wilson. A bunch of sheriffs and candidates endorsed him as part of a statewide thing. Second, you’re right if you think that sled used to look the other way when it came to sheriffs but its not that way these days! Just in the past two or three years look at Goodwin right here in Abbeville, Booth over in Saluda, Melvin in Lee County and Parker in Chesterfield. Ask them if sled will put the state grand jury on you.
Goodwin and Booth didn’t serve ONE day in jail, Ol-timer. SLED’s track record in this part of the state is dismal. The Saluda mayor stole almost $40,000 and the Index did more investigating than SLED.
True enough but most people with no record don’t get jail time on a first offense unless its a doozy like murder or something. These crooked politicians usually get done in by just the arrest and they are done. If we have to rely on the Index to do our investigating we are in serious trouble. They’ve covered for Davis ever since he got elected. The key will be putting some fire under sled’s butt so they quit dragging around. 6 months on a simple case like this is a joke
There is no excuse for the length of time any law enforcement agency, but particularly SLED, is allowed to get away with in dragging out so many investigations.
Although the criteria for court “conviction” is different, SCDSS has to complete an investigation of child or adult abuse or neglect in no more than 60 days. That really is enough time to collect evidence in the vast majority of cases.
Law enforcement needs some time frames to keep them on track, too.
Do you think Jesse, Jr. has been done in?
Sure hope so but you can’t tell with his constituency, can you?
As I recall Sheriff Davis is a close friend of and endorsed Alan (little Joe) Wilson for Attorney General.
This will probably be swept under SLED’s rug, just like the lexington Ring, until the publicity gave Keel no choice, but to act on it.
Our Attorney General seems to have some very questionable and unsavory associates:
Nikki Haley, Danny Frazier, Bob Peeler, Randy Halfacre, amoung others.
First of all Davis is no big buddy with Wilson. A bunch of sheriffs and candidates endorsed him as part of a statewide thing. Second, you’re right if you think that sled used to look the other way when it came to sheriffs but its not that way these days! Just in the past two or three years look at Goodwin right here in Abbeville, Booth over in Saluda, Melvin in Lee County and Parker in Chesterfield. Ask them if sled will put the state grand jury on you.
Goodwin and Booth didn’t serve ONE day in jail, Ol-timer. SLED’s track record in this part of the state is dismal. The Saluda mayor stole almost $40,000 and the Index did more investigating than SLED.
True enough but most people with no record don’t get jail time on a first offense unless its a doozy like murder or something. These crooked politicians usually get done in by just the arrest and they are done. If we have to rely on the Index to do our investigating we are in serious trouble. They’ve covered for Davis ever since he got elected. The key will be putting some fire under sled’s butt so they quit dragging around. 6 months on a simple case like this is a joke
There is no excuse for the length of time any law enforcement agency, but particularly SLED, is allowed to get away with in dragging out so many investigations.
Although the criteria for court “conviction” is different, SCDSS has to complete an investigation of child or adult abuse or neglect in no more than 60 days. That really is enough time to collect evidence in the vast majority of cases.
Law enforcement needs some time frames to keep them on track, too.
Do you think Jesse, Jr. has been done in?
Sure hope so but you can’t tell with his constituency, can you?
So all the checks and balances Wideman had in place flew out the window when good ole Tony rolled in…What a total shame. Why in the world did Tony let this go for so long? Obviously, the joke that Sandi Mac was really the sheriff and running things wasn’t too far from the truth. I hope she goes to jail and I hope TD is removed from office. Hope all of y’all who dogged Wideman are happy now. You ain’t the ones who been to Disney on the taxpayer dime!
So all the checks and balances Wideman had in place flew out the window when good ole Tony rolled in…What a total shame. Why in the world did Tony let this go for so long? Obviously, the joke that Sandi Mac was really the sheriff and running things wasn’t too far from the truth. I hope she goes to jail and I hope TD is removed from office. Hope all of y’all who dogged Wideman are happy now. You ain’t the ones who been to Disney on the taxpayer dime!
Just was thinking back to a conversation from the ball field last summer…I heard that Tony had paid off his daughter-in-law so she would keep quiet and not press charges against TD’s son. Seems that the high sheriff didn’t want his baby boy to get pinned with criminal domestic violence charges. Wonder if Sandi had to run by the ATM to make the monthly daughter-in-law payment? Or maybe she took her to Disney and bought her some pajamas too?!?! Seems like ole Tony likes to keep things on the down low. Wonder what else he has covered up?
We had heard those rumors recently too, that the wife had been telling some of the dirt. I don’t know about that first hand but if sled wants to know how long Davis has had shady stories they should ask him about the county car his son wrecked back when Tony wasn’t sheriff yet. There was no breathalyzer test that night. Deputies say the wrecked car just mysteriously got whisked away until the next morning.
Just was thinking back to a conversation from the ball field last summer…I heard that Tony had paid off his daughter-in-law so she would keep quiet and not press charges against TD’s son. Seems that the high sheriff didn’t want his baby boy to get pinned with criminal domestic violence charges. Wonder if Sandi had to run by the ATM to make the monthly daughter-in-law payment? Or maybe she took her to Disney and bought her some pajamas too?!?! Seems like ole Tony likes to keep things on the down low. Wonder what else he has covered up?
We had heard those rumors recently too, that the wife had been telling some of the dirt. I don’t know about that first hand but if sled wants to know how long Davis has had shady stories they should ask him about the county car his son wrecked back when Tony wasn’t sheriff yet. There was no breathalyzer test that night. Deputies say the wrecked car just mysteriously got whisked away until the next morning.
How is it that the sheriff in Laurens County, Ricky Chastain can do the same things, even worse, than Tony Davis and Charles Goodwin did, and get by with it?
Chastain is reportedly paying absolutely outrageous prices to his family’s car lot for vehicles for his department, looking the other way while his employees pocket cash for serving legal papers, re-hiring deputies after they have been caught for soliciting MALE prostitutes in Greenville County, using county money to pay for his girlfriend’s abortions, allowing deputies to help themselves to property from the county evidence vault, paying his girlfriend employees for weeks at a time even when they don’t show up, paying with county taxpayer dollars rooms for his girlfriends at the beach, and the list goes on and on.
This business that he and SENIOR SLED supervisors are reportedly “seeing” the same females employed by SLED will only get him so far.
Surely, Governor Haley will not condone this. But, then again, who knows?
Sooner or later, he will have to answer, legally, for his poor conduct.
How is it that the sheriff in Laurens County, Ricky Chastain can do the same things, even worse, than Tony Davis and Charles Goodwin did, and get by with it?
Chastain is reportedly paying absolutely outrageous prices to his family’s car lot for vehicles for his department, looking the other way while his employees pocket cash for serving legal papers, re-hiring deputies after they have been caught for soliciting MALE prostitutes in Greenville County, using county money to pay for his girlfriend’s abortions, allowing deputies to help themselves to property from the county evidence vault, paying his girlfriend employees for weeks at a time even when they don’t show up, paying with county taxpayer dollars rooms for his girlfriends at the beach, and the list goes on and on.
This business that he and SENIOR SLED supervisors are reportedly “seeing” the same females employed by SLED will only get him so far.
Surely, Governor Haley will not condone this. But, then again, who knows?
Sooner or later, he will have to answer, legally, for his poor conduct.