Former Aiken legislator’s ‘no contact’ order lifted over prosecutor’s objection

Former Rep. Chris Corley can once again have contact with his wife, who he is accused of beating, after a judge lifted an order that prevented Corley from doing so.

The decision by Circuit Judge Doyet Early is dated March 9 and was made after Corley filed a motion on Feb. 21 requesting the “no contact” provision be dropped from the condition of his bond, according to Early’s order.

Corley was initially arrested in December on charges of first-degree criminal domestic violence, but was indicted in January on the most serious tier of domestic charges: criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.

During one of his hearings, Corley, a Republican who had represented Aiken County, was banned from contacting his wife, who The State newspaper is not naming.

Corley’s wife told the court during a Feb. 27 hearing that she and Corley had known each other since childhood and had three children together. Corely’s wife said she had “personally met with a physician” treating Corley and had “gained valuable insight into his behavior,” Early said in the order.

“Mrs. Corley was responsive to the court's inquiries and showed no distress or compulsion in her statements to the court,” Early said.

Though the assistant state attorney general prosecuting the case objected to Corley’s request, Early said it was the court’s responsibility to take into consideration the “desires and requests” of Corley’s wife.

Early’s order also revealed that his wife had served Corley with an action for divorce, custody, temporary maintenance and a protective order on Dec. 29. That case has since been dismissed, according to an Aiken County Family Court clerk.

Despite the changes in the order, the criminal case against Corley is still pending. Corley is accused of punching his wife in the face and later pointing a gun at her face. In audio from the 911 call his wife placed from her Apple Watch, two of their children could be heard asking Corley to stop.

Corley resigned from his seat in the S.C. House of Representatives on Jan. 24, as House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, was preparing to introduce a resolution that called for Corley’s expulsion.

This story was originally published March 17, 2017 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Former Aiken legislator’s ‘no contact’ order lifted over prosecutor’s objection."