Indicted SC sheriff hires two savvy Columbia lawyers to fight misconduct charges

Suspended Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone has hired two prominent Columbia lawyers to represent him.

The attorneys are Butch Bowers and Robert Bolchoz — who both have long resumes in high profile political, policy and criminal cases.

“We look forward to representing Sheriff Boone and getting this matter resolved,” Bowers said Thursday.

Last month, when Boone was taken into custody by State Law Enforcement Division agents and within hours brought before a state judge, he had no lawyers with him. A state grand jury indictment charged Boone with misconduct in office and embezzlement.

The April 24 arrest had come as a complete surprise, Boone told Judge DeAndrea Benjamin. Gov. Henry McMaster suspended Boone from office the same day. Boone was released that day on his promise to come to future court appearances and wear an ankle monitor.

Bowers, 53, currently represents Gov. McMaster and has, in the past, represented former S.C. governors Mark Sanford and Nikki Haley on a variety of political, legal and policy matters.

In Sanford’s case, Bowers helped foil a 2009 S.C. House impeachment effort after disclosures that Sanford had an affair with an Argentinian woman and crossed state ethical guidelines. In 2012, Bowers helped then-Gov. Haley fight allegations involving purported conflicts while she had been a state representative from Lexington. Haley was eventually cleared of wrongdoing.

Bowers, along with several other lawyers, also represented former S.C. Lt. Gov. Ken Ard in disputes that resulted in Ard’s resigning from office and pleading guilty to criminal charges involving ethics violations. Ard avoided prison and was given only a fine and 300 hours of community service as punishment.

Bowers also has represented former N.C. Gov Pat McCrory in federal litigation involving transgender bathrooms and voter identification issues.

Bolchoz, 55, has been deputy attorney general under both former attorney general Charlie Condon and current attorney general Alan Wilson. In that capacity, he oversaw and prosecuted “hundreds of criminal cases, including violent crimes, drug trafficking and public corruption matters,” according to his website. In his current practice, Bolchoz represents a variety of corporations and elected officials.

This story was originally published May 2, 2019 at 12:21 PM.