SLED Investigating Cherokee County Jail
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jail foloNews Channel 7 has learned that the South Carolina Law Enforcement division now as an open investigation into Cherokee County’s jail. The investigation comes after a Department of Corrections report claims jail employees allowed a former inmate to have sexual relationships out of the facility and run a business behind bars. Today, we have new information about the former inmate’s plans to marry a detention center employee, who now out of a job.
The jail is not your typical place to plan a wedding, but that’s just what the DOC found happening at the jail back in May.
Inside convicted drug trafficker Kevin Bell’s cell, investigators found a wedding invitation and a list of 60 names on the guest list. On the list, many deputies, detention officers, a solicitor investigator and five judges.
His bride-to-be was supposed to be former detention officer Kim Wilson. Earlier this week, the sheriff’s office terminated her employment after News Channel 7 questioned the sheriff about the report last week.
Before his wedding plans, the report also claims that inmate Bell spent much of his time outside the jail, including Chuck E. Cheese, where he spent the day at his daughter’s birthday party.
The report also claims the former inmate made bank visits, where investigators found Bell deposited about $23,000 dollars while incarcerated; took a trip Wal-Mart; restaurants; his mother’s residence, a Christmas dinner with the county’s chief deputy and a Harley shop.
The report also claims another inmate put out election signs for Sheriff Bill Blanton.
Blanton denies most of the report, but over the phone last week, he did tell us he allowed Bell to sell a leather jack for him on Ebay.com.
Cherokee County probate court says it does not have a marriage license on file for Bell or Wilson. Calls to their home phone were not returned.
SLED says the investigation could take weeks to complete.
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Reader Reactions
I just saw a sheriff in “another town” busting drug dealers, now that “makes you proud don’t it”. Sled needs to come on in and clean Gaffney up and put all involved behind bars (hope you can find one honest officer on the force)It’s time this kind of corruption was stoped. Why let this keep happening?
IN response to alwasysnew, you are so right, antone that has held more than one trem in that town/county is a part of that"good old boy” network, I know I was born and raised there, but have moved away and just a few weeks ago I was visiting 300 miles from there and told someone were I was from and they knew about all the shadey going on that(makes you now want to claim Gaffney as you home town) I know things like this go in most towns but it is sad for Gaffney to be known as “THE BEST LITTLE DRUG TOWN IN THE SOUTH"when you have a town a few miles away knownas “THE BEST TOWN TO LIVE IN SC”
Come on Rick Burgess’s name is on the invite list, so what does this say about him? I think every officer on this list needs to be “kicked to the curb” every judge and court officer or worker thrown out of office or fired as the case may be, as for Wilson thow her trashie behind in jail(she brocke the law) and have Bell really serve his full time in areal jail, he’s been on a state paid vacation and earning untaxed income at my(tax payer)expense
You know the bad thing about this hole mess is Sheriff Blanton was re-elected. I feel like we get Bill Blanton out of there and elect Rick Burgess as our Sheriff he will start to clean house..I can’t believe that Sheriff Blanton sit back with blinders on and didn’t know about “ALL”, that was going on “WAKE UP CHEROKEE COUNTY”, do I need to put on a pot of coffee for you to smell what’s going on.MY SELF I SMELL SOMETHING FISHY!!!
You know what, I agree. It’s not right to blame Mr. Bell. He did exactly what anyone else would have in his position. But I feel that although it’s not as severe, Ms. Wilson should be punished. She knew what she was doing was wrong. And our so called sheriff’s office should be dealt with. I would be satisfied if they are all FIRED. But I think a few of them should have to serve some time. This mess has gone on long enough, it’s time to continue to uncover all the dirty little secrets, because I know that this case is just the tip of the ice burg! I can’t wait until SLED comes so that they can show proof that Mr. Bell didn’t make all that money from eBay and odd jobs while incarcerated. He has been spotted a quite a few drug raids. You figure it out!
This will soon be forgotten, and no one will be punished for their actions.
Sherriff Blanton knows what is allowed for an inmate, and he knew that none of this was legal. I think everyone who is involved with this man having the right to run all over Cherokee and Spartanburg Counties should lose their jobs, including our sherriff.
I saw this man at Miss Wilson’s mom and dad’s restaurant with his daughter.He was behind the counter getting his food, and just enjoying himself like the paying people who came in.I did not know at the time he was suppose to be in jail.
There are so many people who are without jobs, and their unemployment isn’t near as much as this man made as an inmate.
I don’t fault Mr. Bell or Miss Wilson. Any person who is locked up, and given the opportunities this man was given would take advantage of it.
I hope that each person who had anything to do with an inmate being able to do all this should lose their jobs, and have to serve time without the rights that Mr. Bell had.
It is sad to see what our elected sherriff is letting go on in this town.
I personaly think you all should leave Bell and Wilson alone, The shreiff is to blame for allowing this to go on. why go after these two people when they were more involed. If everybody would check their own life im sure its not always been perfect, so like the saying says clean your porch off first then judge, because GOD himself dont judge us until death, so give them a break. For one day we will all answer for right and wrong.
Thank the good Lord that somebody other than ME now knows what’s going on in this town. I want to thank the media for bringing it to the light. Cherokee County has been corrupt for as long as I can remember, my mother can remember and my grandmother can remember. How can someone in jail FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING make $23,000 and some people on the streets WORKING are not making that much money. If that’s the case, the men in jail for child support should be able to work and pay for these kids who’s mothers are left struggling to take care of them by themselves. Bill Blanton and the whole sheriff’s department should be investigated and a WHOLE LOT more secrets will come out. Personally, I feel that Mr. Bell didn’t serve any time, he should be locked back up and serve his sentence the hard way like everybody else! And they should do a clean sweep of the invitation list and put them in there together! Thank you Lord for bringing it all to the light!!!!
Things like this have been going on for years and will continue because of the current administration. If SLED does a full investigation then they will find LOTS of things wrong. Kim Wilson should be prosecuted for what she did, not just fired. How do we expect things to get better if no one is held responsible.
i agree with shelia. sheriff blanton knew what was going on just like the rest of them or why would he let him sell a jacket for him on e-bay. he was in it just as much as the rest. he should also be investigated.
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