Former Aiken judge pardoned 6/18/2009 12:33 AM By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
Former Aiken County Magistrate Charles Terry Carter, who in February 2008 pleaded guilty to misconduct in office, has been pardoned.
Carter, 60, of Graniteville, was pardoned on April 29, which means he is fully forgiven from all legal consequences of his crime and conviction, state officials confirm. A pardon does not, however, speak to guilt or innocence.
"His guilt has already been established," said Pete O'Boyle, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.
Carter was arrested on Jan. 9, 2007, at his office - once located at the Masonic Shopping Center in Graniteville - on allegations he knew his legal secretary had a sexual relationship with an inmate assigned to work at the office. Following his arrest, Carter was placed on interim suspension until June 2007, when he submitted his resignation, citing medical reasons.
It was later learned that the former magistrate knew his legal secretary had a sexual relationship with an inmate at the Lower Savannah Pre-Release Center on Wire Road.
She was arrested in December 2006, a month after the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division launched its investigation at the request of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. The secretary later admitted to the misconduct in a written statement.
The pardon does not mean the conviction will be expunged from his legal record, either, although it will likely be noted that there has been a pardon, officials said.
Aiken County Chief Magistrate Roger Edmunds explained that while technically Carter could be reappointed if a state senator or the governor chose to do so, he said that Carter has been away from his post for more than a year, and to reapply for the position, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree.
Carter does not have one, Edmunds said.
Carter became the Graniteville magistrate in July 1997.
Before then, he was a ministerial magistrate and also a law enforcement officer under former Aiken County Sheriff Ralph Gunnels. Sen. Tommy Moore appointed Carter to the position.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title: the buddy system
Sheriff Hunt had to get rid of Judge Carter after Carter wouldn't get rid of Taylor's warrant. Hunt then took matters into his own hand and got rid of the warrant himself and made sure Solicitor Morgan would not reinstate the warrant. I guess it's nice to have friends in high places. Would be a shame for Hunt, SLED and all of "aiken counties finest" to lose their hunting, party and fishing rights at the Taylor farm. But Hunt should be sure his sins will find him out.
Posted by: Jim On: 6/23/2009
Comment Title:
Becky, How Long Had You Worked For Sheriff Hunt?
Posted by: Becky On: 6/23/2009
Comment Title: ?
Maybe someone should ask the other legal secretary at the time of incident who she had an affair with?
Posted by: Twisted Sista On: 6/20/2009
Comment Title: Fair & Impartial
How can a magistrate be expected to act fairly and impartially when he has to fear that the sheriff is going to bring some frivious or trumped up charge against him? There must be some law against this or otherwise the magistrates would just be employeed by the sheriff.
Posted by: barbra On: 6/20/2009
Comment Title: Getting a pardon
To the person that stated that "the good ole' boy system" was still working, I say this. In speaking with several attorneys in Aiken, getting a pardon in almost unheard of in less than 10 years. Obviously when Judge Carter went before the pardon committee they could see through all of the bull----. Maybe you didn't know but the only thing Judge Carter got for that charge was a fine. A fine less than some magistrate court cases charge. What the corrupt people causing this charge wanted was for him to lose his job, but what goes around comes around.
Posted by: barbra On: 6/20/2009
Comment Title:
In reference to qualifications to be a magistrate, I know that two of the Aiken County Magistrates are "attorneys". Does that give you any indication of the quality of those "attorneys?" What attorney worth anything would want to be a magistrate probably making 20% of what a good attorney makes a year.
Posted by: thomas On: 6/20/2009
Comment Title:
According to an agent with SLED, no one in South Carolina has ever been charged with this, much less tried for it. Does that tell you anything about your sheriff.
Posted by: On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title: Justice in Aiken
Judge Carter must have done something to upset the sheriff. The sheriff looks corrupt if this is the best he could come up with against a magistrate who wouldn't play ball with him.
Posted by: Mike On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title: Judge Lynn is No Good
Judge Lynn is good. You must be out of your mind. Have you ever attended a preliminary hearing at the detention center? If not, these hearings are open to the public and conducted each Wednesday and 1:30 p.m. at the detention center. He almost never goes against the solicitor and most of the time he just lets them tell him what to do. One time we saw him make a decision to bound over a charge, but then the assistant solicitor told him maybe the elements wheren't there and then he immediately reversed his so-called independent judicial decision. The only thing he's good at is being a puppet for the solicitor and sheriff. We hope that Shane appoints a qualified replacement for this incompetent judge.
Posted by: Bruce On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title: Aiken County Magistrates
The Aiken Standard should do a story about all the Aiken County magistrates, interview them, education and experience, state requirements, to include any relationships they have with law enforcement (spouses, children, brothers, sisters, etc.). Put in on the table and let's see what's going on in Aiken so that Senator Ryberg and Senator Massey can make the right choices for the next round of qualified magistrates who will serve our county.
Posted by: thomas On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title:
Also, Judge Lynn does not have a four year degree even though he was appointed and the agreement was that he would get one. He still has not done that and he never will. All he has is a "store bought" one, according to Senator Ryberg. I hope Shane will see that next appointment.
Posted by: thomas On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title:
In your article you stated that"it was later learned that Judge Carter knew his secretary was having a sexual relationship with an inmate". I don't believe that was ever proven. Judge Carter did not plead quilty, his plea as I read was to an "Alford" charge. That charge said he "should have known" since it was his office. Also maybe everyone believes her assignations took place at the Magistrate's office in Graniteville. IT DID NOT!!!! According to SLED it happened at THE AIKEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN THE BASEMENT!!! Also the article said she admitted she was " having an affair with an inmate" she also admitted to 7 attorneys secretaries at a luncheon that "SLED was not after me" but Judge Carter.
Posted by: On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title: BARBRA
I wonder if your reporter spoke with Judge Carter before this story was written? How does Judge Edmonds know that Judge Carter is not in the process of getting a degree? After all it's been almost 3 years, does Judge Edmonds keep in touch with him? He makes it seem that Judge Carter was the only Magistrate that did not have a four year degree. Judge Edmonds does not have a four year degree, Judge Insley does not have a four year degree, Judge Neal does not, Judge Fallaw does not, Judge Williamson only has a two year degree that she got after she was appointed, so you see maybe it would be prudent if your reporter talked personally to whoever the story is about.
Posted by: On: 6/19/2009
Comment Title:
Most of the individuals connected to this farce of a charge have already gotten their due. Three have lost their jobs, people all over the county is learning that one is not the person they thought he was and another I understand is being investigated. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!!!
Posted by: Barbara On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Great Aiken County Judge
Charles Carter was one of the best judges in Aiken County. He was not afraid to make an independent judgement, and was one of the few judges who was not in their pocket. He should have never been arrested with this trumped up charge. SLED was used as the sheriff's puppet in this case.
Posted by: On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Other Judicial Misconduct Charges in Aiken
We understand that ethics charges were also filed with the SC Judicial Disciplinary Counsel against magistrate Tracey Carroll for judicial misconduct.
Posted by: Bruce On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: False Judge Application
On his application for reappointment as a judge Judge Lynn falsely stated that he had an associates degree in an effort to qualify himself from a formal education point-of-view, but he only had a 20 hour online course. we hope that Judge Carter is appointed to replace him soon.
Posted by: Don't Worry - The Good Ole Boy System is Just Fine!!! On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title:
Once again, the "good ole boy" system is alive and well...and "takin care of bizzzness" handing out a pardon
Posted by: Courtney On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Guilty of other things
If he was guilty of "other things", then that's what he should have been arrested for. The only thing we know of that he was guilty of was refusing to illegally distroy an issued CDV warrant to Darren Taylor after Sheriff Mike Hunt, in a effort to obstruct justice, demanded that he do that. Soon after Mike made this demand to the judge, Mike had him investigated and arrested by SLED. Is that what you're talking about boy wonder?
Posted by: On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Jude Lynn is good, but what about conviction from Carter?
Judge Lynn is good at his job. At this point, his experience on the job more than makes up for any lack of a bachelor's degree. Integrity is more important. But what about J. Carter? If his office was that corrupt to condone such conduct in his office, how can his findings of guilt, guilty pleas, and sentences be trusted? How many people have a corrupt conviction on their record from his court? Or got off when they should have a record?
Posted by: On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: ?
There were many reasons other than the investigation of his legal secretary. This man was guilty of other things not mentioned. We can only hope he is not reappointed.
Posted by: Bruce On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Magistrate Qualifications
How is it that Judge Sheridan "Danny" Lynn is qualified to be the bond court magistrate at the detention center when he doesn't even have an associates degree, but claims that he does after taking a 20 hour course? We need someone with a four year degree in this position who's not just a rubber stamp for the sheriff and solicitor.
Posted by: Appalled! On: 6/18/2009
Comment Title: Seriously?
You have got to be kidding me...
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