Former Lexington County councilman charged with assault, lewd exposure
A former Lexington County councilman was arrested and charged with assault and improperly exposing himself, according to court records.
On Friday, Billy R. Oswald was charged with assault and battery in the second degree and exposing his private parts in a lewd and lascivious manner, according to the records.
At a bond hearing in Lexington County Friday, Jack Cohoon, the victim’s lawyer, told the court that the victim went to Oswald’s law office in West Columbia for legal help when Oswald allegedly “took advantage” of her. Oswald allegedly fondled the victim’s breast and exposed his genitals, according to a detective.
As a matter of policy, The State does not name victims of sexual harassment or assault.
Cohoon told the court that an unnamed individual had also allegedly called the victim and attempted to bribe her to drop the charges.
Oswald’s lawyer, Jake Moore, said that his client “maintains his innocence.” During the a bond hearing, Oswald received a $4,500 surety bond, which was paid by his wife. As a condition of his release, Oswald was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
Moore said that he took “great exception” to the allegation that someone had attempted to bribe the victim, and said that the victim told investigators that she was bringing the charges after she could not get financial compensation from Oswald following the sexual assault.
“They have two sides to this thing and it’s not a very pretty scenario,” Moore told the court.
At the hearing, Moore accused Cohoon of trying to “extort” Oswald.
It’s the latest in a series of legal woes for Oswald, a longtime Lexington County politician and Midlands lawyer who most recently ran unsuccessfully in last year’s Republican primary to fill the state senate seat formerly held by Nikki Setzler.
Oswald was sued in fall 2022 by his former office manager, represented by Cohoon, who alleged that Oswald groped her and fostered a toxic culture of sexism at his law office. Last year, Oswald settled with her for $71,000 in back pay.
On Jan. 4 this year, Oswald’s license to practice law was suspended.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the state body that regulates attorneys, asked the state Supreme Court to temporarily suspend Oswald’s law license due to unspecified “misconduct.”
Oswald’s long political career has also included serving as South Carolina director for Gary Hart’s 1984 presidential campaign and unsuccessful runs in the Republican primaries for state House seats in 2016 and 2018. He also held positions on the Lexington County Board of Education, the South Carolina Health Planning Committee and the board of the Lexington Medical Center.
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This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM.