S.C. official charged for accepting payoffs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s agriculture commissioner was arrested Thursday on charges of taking at least $20,000 in payoffs to protect a cockfighting ring from the law.

Charles Sharpe, 65, was indicted on federal charges including extortion and money laundering. He was accused of accepting the money from an organization involved in breeding and raising birds for cockfighting. Cockfighting is illegal in South Carolina.

Sharpe pleaded innocent and was freed on $100,000 bail.

Gov. Mark Sanford immediately suspended Sharpe, as required under the South Carolina Constitution, and will search for an interim commissioner to appoint. If convicted, Sharpe, who was elected in 2002, would automatically lose his office. The two extortion charges alone carry up to 20 years in prison each.

“Mr. Sharpe maintains his innocence,” said his attorney John Felder. “He certainly denies the charges.”