Grand jury indicts 4 former Horry police officers; 2 face sexual misconduct charges
Several former Horry County Police officers were indicted by a grand jury Thursday, according to the S.C. Attorney General’s office, including former Detective Allen Large.
Also indicted were former officers Luke Green, Todd Cox and Daryl Williams.
Large was indicted on five counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree and six counts of misconduct in office. The indictments allege that Large knowingly used coercion to engage in sexual battery with multiple victims and knowingly engaged in inappropriate relationships with victims of cases he was investigating.
The Sun News reported that Large confessed during a March deposition to encouraging women to participate in nude catfight videos, but he has denied sexually harassing or assaulting four women who have filed lawsuits against him and the Horry County Police Department.
Williams was indicted on nine counts of misconduct in office. The indictments allege Williams knowingly failed to properly investigate multiple alleged crimes and that he used his county vehicle and county paid time to also work for a separate state agency, the Department of Social Services.
The indictments signed by Attorney General Alan Wilson say Williams failed to properly investigate 88 cases assigned to him, failed to properly investigate two cases of criminal sexual conduct, two cases of sexual assault and one kidnapping and sexual assault.
Cox was indicted on 16 counts of misconduct in office. The indictments allege Cox knowingly closed cases without proper investigation and knowingly unassigned himself from cases allowing them to remain unassigned for a period of time.
The cases Cox unassigned to himself or closed without investigation include criminal sexual conduct, child abuse, lynching, armed robbery, sexual exploitation with a minor, kidnapping, cruelty to children, overdose death, shooting, and attempted murder. One indictment says he failed to investigate 18 cases.
Green was indicted on three counts of misconduct in office. The indictments allege that Green knowingly engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with an informant and made inappropriate sexual contact with a suspect during an arrest.
The indictments say that Green made inappropriate sexual contact with a suspect during a prostitution arrest, and engaged in a sexual relationship with a confidential informant.
Misconduct in office is a misdemeanor offense punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years in jail on each count. Criminal sexual conduct third degree is a felony offense punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years imprisonment.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office and all four are expected to be arraigned next week.
Wilson said that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
This story was originally published September 16, 2016 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Grand jury indicts 4 former Horry police officers; 2 face sexual misconduct charges."