Attorneys present closing arguments in federal case against former Pee Dee sheriff for excessive use of force

FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – In a nearly week-long federal trial, the case of a former Marlboro County sheriff is now in the hands of a jury.

The prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Monday afternoon in the case against Charles Lemon. He is accused of false imprisonment after, according to investigators, he ordered one of his officers to use a Taser six times on an inmate at the Marlboro County Detention Center.

Back in May 2020, Jarrel Johnson was arrested by officers after allegedly brutally beating his father with an aluminum bat.

Lemon claimed Johnson followed him at the detention center, prompting the sheriff to order a deputy to taser Johnson multiple times, all of which was captured on a body camera.

During the trial, prosecutors questioned Lemon's training history. Witnesses took the stand and said that while the sheriff's office did not go over policies on the use of Tasers, it did go over other policies, such as social media use.

A member of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy also testified, saying that during training, police officers are instructed to only use a Taser on someone three times. Johnson was shocked with a Taser six times.

Meanwhile, a State Law Enforcement Division lieutenant and Taser instructor stated that Lemon never had Taser certification and should not have ordered the deputy to use the Taser.

When it was the defense's turn to call witnesses, law enforcement consultant Ray Nash Jr. was called to the stand.

Nash said Lemon was well within his rights to order the use of a Taser six times.

He added that this was the only way for MPs to reach agreement in this situation.

He also pointed out that Johnson was accused of a violent crime and that using a taser was their only option to subdue him.

Lemon testified Monday and spoke about his past with the inmate's family. He said he has known the Johnson family for 34 years and was good friends with Johnson's father. He also claimed he took a stricter approach because Johnson did not want to go to the prison cell.

If Lemon is convicted in this case, he faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.

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