SC lawmaker pleads not guilty to misconduct, delinquency of a minor charges
NEWBERRY, S.C. -- Suspended South Carolina Rep. Rick Martin pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of misconduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The Newberry Republican appeared in front of a judge for the first time in the Newberry County Courthouse Tuesday with his lawyer, House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, D-Richland. Rutherford argued Martin should not be given a high bond, because he is “no way, shape or form a flight risk.”
Judge G. D. Morgan released Martin on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
Martin was indicted last Friday by a grand jury on charges that he tried to influence an investigation by the state’s child-welfare agency and provided a minor with alcohol. As practice, House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, suspended Martin from the House almost immediately.
The indictment said Martin, who has served in the House since 2017, tried to influence an investigation at the state Department of Social Services between December 2019 and the end of January 2020, and that he provided a woman under the age of 21 with an alcoholic beverage in January 2019.
Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article256550841.html