Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth resigned from office Thursday– the same day prosecutors say he was indicted on a charge of misconduct in office.
Former Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth (Courtesy: Saluda County)
A state grand jury has handed down an indictment against Booth. The indictment states Booth used an inmate to do work at his home. The inmate was on loan to Saluda County from the state Corrections Department The indictment says the inmate did construction work around the property.
According to the indictment, the incidents happened between January 2006 and October 2011.
Booth sent a letter to Governor Nikki Haley Thursday morning saying he was resigning effective immediately. In his note, he did not give a reason for leaving office. The letter asks that his Chief Deputy, W.R. Freeman, serve as interim sheriff until the new sheriff is sworn in next January.
Booth had already announced he would not seek a fourth term as sheriff. An election to replace him is scheduled for November.
Booth, a Republican, was first elected in 2001. His father George Booth served as Saluda County Sheriff from 1980 to 1986.
