A judge has set a trial date for former Union County Sheriff Howard Wells, former Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh, and former tax assessor Bill Randall.
The three men each face charges stemming from a federal investigation into corruption allegations in Union County. They were indicted by a grand jury on October 5th. They appeared in federal court in Spartanburg for a pretrial hearing on Thursday.
Wells is accused of witness tampering and lying to investigators who were looking into loans he had made. Betenbaugh faces a 45-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy, extortion, soliciting bribes, harrassing witnesses, hiding evidence, distributing prescription drugs, and allowing drugs to be stored and sold at the Union County Tax Assessor's Office. Randall faces charges of extortion, conspiracy and drug distribution. Investigators allege he used his office as a "stash house" for cocaine and hydrocodone. Two Union County residents, Lapriest Beacham and Willard Farr, were also arrested as a result of the investigation.
U.S. District Judge Henry F. Floyd told prosecutors and the defense attorneys to appear in court again on January 25th for motion hearings. February 2nd will be the final day the defendants can change their not guilty pleas. Jury selection is set to begin on February 3rd with trials to immediately follow.
Click on the video tab to see Chris Cato's interview with Wells' attorney, Albert Smith.
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