Interim Marlboro County sheriff has comfortable lead over crowded field
(WBTW) — Interim Marlboro County Sheriff Larry McNeil has captured nearly 50% of the vote as he seeks his own term.
The Democrat was appointed to the role in 2021 by Gov. Henry McMaster after sitting sheriff Charles Lemon was suspended over allegations of misconduct in office and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Lemon was acquitted by a federal grand jury in August and resumed his duties .
As of 9 p.m., McNeil had 47.8% of the vote — nearly doubling up his Republican opponent Charles English, who had 28% with two-thirds of precincts reporting.
Lemon launched a write-in campaign. Write-in candidates had 23% of the vote on Tuesday, but it wasn't immediately known how many of those were for Lemon.
James Albert Paulding pulled in 1.5% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at . See more of his work here .