Jury deliberating in case of former SC sheriff
TLDRIn a federal trial in South Carolina, former sheriff Charles Lemons is accused of civil rights abuse. The jury has begun deliberations after Lemons testified in his own defense, claiming he only used a Taser as a scare tactic to get Terrell Johnson to comply with orders. The prosecution argues Lemons was irritated and abused Johnson, despite the latter's compliance. The judge instructed the jury on the aiding and abetting standard, emphasizing Lemons' responsibility for ordering the Taser use.
Takeaways
- 👨⚖️ The trial of former SC sheriff Charles Lemons is nearing its end with the jury now deliberating on the civil rights abuse charge.
- 🎥 Charles Lemons took the stand in his own defense, claiming that he went to the jail to help and that the Taser was the only option available that day.
- 🗣️ Lemons testified that he never intended for Deputy Andrew Cook to use the Taser on Derral Johnson, and it was only a scare tactic to get compliance.
- 👮♂️ The prosecutor questioned Lemons, pointing out that Derral Johnson was fully compliant with Lemons' commands before the Taser incident.
- 🔍 The prosecution argued that Lemons was irritated and took it out on Johnson, and that his actions constituted abuse inside the jail in May 2020.
- 🤔 The judge addressed the question of guilt without pulling the Taser trigger, explaining the legal standard of aiding and abetting, making Lemons as responsible as Cook.
- 📚 The prosecutor emphasized that Lemons' comments each time the Taser was fired are evidence of his guilt and loss of control as a lawman.
- 🏛️ The jury's first task is to elect a foreperson, as instructed by the judge, before proceeding with deliberations.
- 🕒 There is no timeline for when the deliberations may finish, and the judge has not indicated how long the jury will be sequestered.
- 📉 Charles Lemons' future and whether he remains a free man are now in the hands of the federal jury, with a verdict that could come at any time.
- 📺 The reporter, Jody Barr, is on-site in Florence, South Carolina, providing live updates and awaiting the verdict.
Q & A
What is the current status of the case involving former SC sheriff Charles Lemons?
-The case is nearing its end with the jury currently deliberating on the civil rights abuse charge against Charles Lemons.
What was the role of the Queen City News investigation in this case?
-The Queen City News investigation led to the arrest of Charles Lemons, the former sheriff.
What is the main argument presented by Charles Lemons in his defense?
-Charles Lemons argued that he went to the jail to help and that the Taser was the only option he had because Rail Johnson would not listen to orders to get inside the jail cell.
What did Lemons claim about Deputy Andrew Cook's actions with the Taser?
-Lemons testified that he never meant for Deputy Cook to use the Taser on Rail Johnson's head, and that it was only a scare tactic to get Johnson to comply.
According to the prosecution, what was Charles Lemons' state of mind during the incident?
-The prosecution argued that Charles Lemons was irritated and angry, and took that out on Rail Johnson.
What did the prosecution say about Lemons' actions towards Rail Johnson on the day of the incident?
-The prosecution stated that Charles Lemons abused Rail Johnson inside the jail in May 2020.
What is the legal standard of 'aiding and abetting' as it pertains to this case?
-Under the legal standard of aiding and abetting, if someone orders another person to commit a crime, that person is just as responsible.
How did the judge address the issue of Lemons not pulling the Taser trigger?
-The judge instructed the jury that Lemons could still be found guilty under the aiding and abetting standard, even though he did not pull the Taser trigger.
What is the first order of business for the jury once they begin deliberations?
-The first order of business for the jury is to elect a foreperson.
What is the current emotional atmosphere inside the courtroom regarding Charles Lemons?
-Charles Lemons is described as sitting base, watching the evidence presented against him with no facial expressions, attentive and composed.
Is there a timeline for when the jury's deliberations may finish?
-There is no specific timeline given for when the deliberations may finish, and the judge has not indicated whether the jury will continue deliberating into the night.
Outlines
🏛️ Federal Trial of Former Sheriff Charles Lemons
The federal trial of Charles Lemons, the former Sheriff of Marble County, is nearing its end with jury deliberations underway. Lemons took the stand in his own defense, arguing that he went to the jail to help and that a Taser was the only option available due to Terrell Johnson's refusal to comply with orders. Lemons claimed that ordering Deputy Andrew Cook to use the Taser on Johnson's head was a scare tactic, not an intent to harm. The prosecution countered by highlighting that Johnson was compliant with Lemons' commands before the incident and suggested that Lemons was irritated and took it out on Johnson. The judge's instructions to the jury emphasized the legal standard of aiding and abetting, making Lemons as responsible as Cook for the Taser's use. The jury is now tasked with determining Lemons' fate, with the verdict potentially coming at any time.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Jury deliberating
💡Federal trial
💡Civil rights abuse
💡Taser
💡Compliance
💡Prosecutor
💡Aiding and abetting
💡Foreperson
💡Verdict
💡Abuse of power
Highlights
Jury deliberations have begun in the federal trial of former Sheriff Charles Lemons.
Charles Lemons took the stand in his own defense, claiming his actions were to ensure compliance, not to punish.
Lemons testified that using a Taser was the only option due to the non-compliance of Terrell Johnson.
Deputy Andrew Cook was ordered to Taser Johnson's head, which Lemons claims was a scare tactic.
Prosecutors argue that Johnson was fully compliant with Lemons' commands before the Taser incident.
The prosecution highlighted Lemons' irritation and anger, suggesting it influenced his actions towards Johnson.
Prosecutors accused Lemons of civil rights abuse inside the jailhouse in May 2020.
The judge instructed the jury on the legal standard of aiding and abetting, making Lemons as responsible as Cook.
The prosecution presented evidence of Lemons' loss of control over the situation in the jail.
Lemons' demeanor in court was attentive and expressionless as evidence was presented against him.
The jury's first order of business is to elect a foreperson, as instructed by the judge.
There is no timeline for when the deliberations may finish, and the judge has not indicated if the jury will continue tonight.
Charles Lemons' future and whether he remains a free man is now in the hands of the federal jury.
The verdict could come down at any time, with the case drawing significant attention in Florence, South Carolina.
The trial follows a Queen City News investigation that led to Lemons' arrest.
The case has raised questions about the use of force and the responsibility of commanding officers.
The outcome of the trial may set a precedent for future cases involving law enforcement and civil rights.
The community awaits the verdict, which could have a significant impact on law enforcement practices and policies.