MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) -- A former Marlboro County sheriff cleared last year in a federal excessive force trial is suing his top political rival and others, claiming they're at the center of a plot to defame him.

Charles Lemon filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Marlboro County Court against Sheriff Larry McNeil, Lt. Trevor Murphy, Chief Deputy Larry Turner and former Clerk of Court Anita Williams.

Lemon was acquitted in September 2024 in his federal excessive force trial in Florence. He returned as sheriff once his suspension was lifted just days after his acquittal.

State charges against Lemon were dropped in March.

Lemon and former Deputy David Cook were indicted in January 2024 in an excessive use of force incident stemming from a May 2020 incident at the county’s detention center. Co

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