Sheriff who Nabbed Child Killer Indicted

(AP)  The former South Carolina sheriff who investigated the Susan Smith case has been indicted by a federal grand jury with lying to authorities and witness tampering.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins said Monday former Union County Sheriff Howard Wells is accused of persuading a witness to mislead investigators and destroy evidence as part of a loan investigation.

Wells faces up to 45 years in prison if he is convicted. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

The Susan Smith case vaulted Wells into the national spotlight in 1994.

The Union County mother said her two sons had been taken in a carjacking. But nine days later, Smith confessed to Wells she had let her car roll into a lake with the boys inside.

Smith is currently serving life in prison.

[formrusmcsgt]

A former sherrif 45 years in the lock-up?

Now that's goona be REAL tough.....

[brianbwb-2009]

No joke, perhaps he'd better have a certain something surgically widened, at least there will be the benefit of an anesthetic beforehand.

[rhs648]

Some years back, I worked with a fellow who was a terrific family man. At some point, he and his wife went through a bitter divorce. A few years later, I saw his picture on the Sheriff's Department most wanted list for not paying alimony. Things happen to people and they change. This sheriff may have been a very honorable person in the past but got involved in something dishonest. It would be interesting to know more about his background.

[puzzler125]

If her only confession is to Wells isn't that now suspect as well as all other convictions based upon his work?

[smt1013]

This just goes to show you that the only thing that seperates cops from criminals is they haven't been caught yet. The have the ability to hide behind the power of their badge and have their buddies lie to protect them. I have respect for the laws of the land, but I loathe the majority of the folks employed to enforce it.

[Livinontheedge]

This guy ran on the GOP ticket too lmao.

[kenhamlett]

Why just stop with one county? Don't be surprised if you find every county in the state has similar situations. Of course in a state that has nothing to offer the world except its corruption, you might say this is its major industry.
BTW it is also its major export product. Their corruption can affect your state and probably does.

[chelokee]

OMG, nice going sherrif

[1badgirl]

in south carolina
the clown state

[DaVicar8]

A corrupt law enforcement official?
*GHASP*