A South Carolina Democrat lawmaker who lost his primary is now charged with pointing a handgun at his opponent’s uncle outside a polling place, and he says he is innocent.
Story Highlights
- State Rep. Michael Rivers, a Democrat from St. Helena Island, is accused of pointing a handgun at a man outside the Green Pond Community Center polling place in Colleton County on primary day.
- Rivers says he is innocent and calls the accusation from his political opponent “politics at its worst.”
- The felony charge carries up to five years in prison.
- He is free on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond, which means he signed a promise to return to court and paid no cash.
- A separate 2022 complaint that he pulled a handgun in a land dispute is still an open state police case, with no charge filed.
Lawmaker Says He Is Innocent
Investigators say the trouble started with an argument over the race for Rivers’ own House seat. Rivers denies the charge and points to the man who beat him. “I’m innocent and feel this accusation from my political opponent represents politics at its worst,” he said. “I ask that people withhold judgment until this matter is settled in a court of law.” His attorney, Seth Rose, said Rivers “is asserting his innocence to this accusation levied against him by a political opponent.”
Agents with SLED, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is the state police agency, arrested Rivers on Friday, October 9. The charge goes back to primary day, Tuesday, June 9, at the Green Pond Community Center, which was serving as a polling place for the statewide primaries. The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office asked SLED to look into the case.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to the arrest warrant, Rivers and the man had a short verbal argument over the campaign for House District 121. The warrant says Rivers then took a handgun from his vehicle and pointed it at the man. Investigators cite parking lot video and witness statements. Deputies arrived after Rivers had already left.
Reports identify the man as Oliver Francis, the uncle of Shannon DeLoach. DeLoach, a pastor who owns two funeral homes, was running against Rivers in the Democratic primary. DeLoach says he brought his uncle to help greet voters. He says Rivers spoke with him briefly and got into his car, and when the uncle walked over, Rivers showed a weapon and drove away.
The Charge And What Comes Next
Rivers faces one count of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, a felony under state law. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine set by the court. He was booked into the Colleton County Detention Center and released after Magistrate Roosevelt Jenkins, a local judge, set his bond. The 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the local prosecutor’s office led by Solicitor Duffie Stone, will handle the case.
Rivers is accused, not convicted. The case now moves through the courts, where prosecutors will have to prove the charge.
He Lost The Race For His Seat
Rivers, 67, is a pastor and Air Force veteran. He has represented District 121, which covers parts of Beaufort and Colleton counties, since 2016, and he was seeking a sixth term. DeLoach beat him in the June 9 primary, 2,159 votes to 1,861, or about 54% to 46%. DeLoach faces Republican Shelley Gay Yuhas of Beaufort in the November 3 general election.
An Earlier Complaint
This is not the first time Rivers has faced this kind of accusation, according to reports. In September 2022, Clifford Huff and Sandra Mack-Huff, a couple on St. Helena Island, told Beaufort County deputies that Rivers got angry during an argument over land ownership on Seaside Road, got a handgun and pointed it at Huff. Deputies listed it as an aggravated assault and sent it to SLED because Rivers was a House member. That complaint has led to no charge. In June, SLED said the case “remains active and ongoing.”
Sources:
fitsnews.com, yahoo.com, abcnews4.com, wrhi.com
