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by ANDY FANCHER
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South Carolina 10th Circuit Solicitor Micah Black will not pursue state charges against former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright – or former sheriff’s office chaplain Amos Durham – citing charges and guilty pleas already secured at the federal level.
In a declination letter sent Oct. 29, 2025, to the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the first-term solicitor acknowledged that state agents helped uncover “overwhelming evidence” that both Wright and Durham “committed numerous crimes” over the past several years.
“Since receiving this case, I have worked closely with prosecutors at the United States Attorney’s Office and with your agents to review the evidence and formulate a strategy in prosecuting these defendants,” Black wrote, before concluding that the state would sit this one out entirely.
In Black’s two-page letter (.pdf), obtained exclusively by FITSNews, he said the decision to forgo state prosecution was based on the former sheriff and chaplain’s “willingness” to plead guilty and face “potential penalties” in federal court, ensuring what he called a “swift and just resolution.”
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“Most importantly,” Black added in the letter, which was cc’d to six different state officials, “the federal courts are better equipped to ensure restitution is paid back… as the federal asset forfeiture statute has greater reach than our current state law.”
In addition to declining state charges, Black confirmed Wright has signed a formal agreement relinquishing his law enforcement certification — ensuring the once nationally recognized, self-described “constitutional sheriff” never carries a badge or gun again.
“Again, thank you for your handling of this matter,” wrote Black, who is ten months into his first term as solicitor. “As always, your agents were thorough and professional throughout this investigation, and they are to be commended for their work.”
As FITSNews previously reported, prosecutorial responsibilities in this landmark state-level case were transferred to Black in June 2025 after 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette recused himself, citing a “close working relationship he and his entire staff” had with Wright during his time as sheriff.
The case then fell to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson — a four-term statewide official and current gubernatorial candidate — whom Wright had previously endorsed in 2018, calling him someone he had “known for a long time” with a “proven track record.”
Rather than assigning the case to any number of seasoned solicitors in neighboring circuits, Wilson reached across the Upstate to Anderson County and handed all prosecutorial responsibilities to a solicitor who had been elected just six months earlier.
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Since news of Black’s decision broke, FITSNews has spoken with a wave of past and present deputies from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and nearby agencies, many of whom expressed disgust and disdain over how the entire situation has been handled.
Early reactions suggested that Black is now viewed by various pockets of Upstate law enforcement communities as “just another bought-off politician,” with several SCSO deputies bluntly calling his decision to forgo state prosecution “bullshit” and “not even surprising.”
The latest turn in Wright’s biblical fall from power came just two days after a federal magistrate granted him, Durham, and federal co-defendant Lawson “LB” Watson $25,000 unsecured bonds, with standard conditions prohibiting firearm possession in their homes.
In addition to the firearm restriction imposed on all three federal defendants, Wright was ordered to participate in a substance abuse program at the direction of the U.S. Probation Office.
Following Monday’s arraignment, Wright exited the courthouse alongside attorneys Gregory Harris and former U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy — whose involvement has only fueled growing speculation about the possibility of a presidential pardon for Wright from Donald Trump.
Now, with state charges officially off the table, speculation among law enforcement, attorneys and just about anyone following this case has only intensified.
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Federal prosecutors say Wright and Durham siphoned money from a sheriff’s office benevolence fund reserved for deputies in times of crisis – instead using it to enrich themselves and, in Wright’s case, to allegedly fuel a pill dependency.
Prosecutors further allege more than $28,200 in improper ATM withdrawals were made from the account between August 2022 and March 2025, citing specific examples of Wright obtaining cash under false pretenses — including one withdrawal made in the name of a slain deputy.
Federal agents also accused Wright of pocketing at least 147 opioid pills from the department’s drug take-back program between May and September 2023 – later cutting a sheriff’s office check to an “unindicted co-conspirator” while continuing to stockpile opioids.
Before the charges were filed publicly on Sept. 25, 2025, Wright agreed to plead guilty to three federal offenses: conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation.
Durham agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
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Watson, meanwhile, was ensnared in the federal probe for holding a paid SCSO position as a code enforcement officer despite little documented output — all while maintaining access to law enforcement equipment that sources say he used to target residents in the Reidville area.
He agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud totaling roughly $200,000.
The trio are scheduled to appear in federal court in Anderson County on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, for a pretrial conference and possible plea hearing.
Separately, Wright still faces 65 state ethics charges — two related to deputizing his son, and 63 tied to county credit card spending that totaled more than $17,000 on items including Fuddruckers, cigarettes and SiriusXM.
Write to Andrew Fancher at andy@fitsnews.com.
This story may be updated.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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7 comments
This alone “should” give anyone pause before voting for Alan Wilson for Governor.
No shit! Wilson seemed the best out of several terrible choices. This sucks.
I wonder if Wright had caused a wreck in Columbia, would he have had substances found in his blood redacted. We all know the answer is probably “yes”.
Meanwhile, Leon Lott breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that the good ole boy system still protects highly placed miscreants in the event their misdeeds are ever uncovered.
Good write-up — clear and thorough. Do you know if the federal plea deals include specific restitution amounts or timelines, or is that still to be determined? Also curious whether state officials can revisit charges if federal penalties later seem insufficient.
Not prosecuting Wright on state charges is a mistake. Trump will pardon Wright.
I would like to know about all the people he has put in jail and prison because of his crooked antics. Do they not get any justice? Who stands for them? He got a break they should get a break as well. Everyone knows if it would have been me or anyone else that did these crimes we would have not got a ounce of sympathy or mercy by any court.
There’s a lot to unpack with this, not charging him by the state is allowing a Federal Judge to weigh the whole situation is humbly not throwing him to the vultures by the state.
He did serve the state, but his apology wasn’t mistakenly incorrect because he’s talking about second chances truly he was begging for mercy. His situation did not lay the foundation that second chances are built on, he was the highest member of law enforcement in a city that he defrauded and abused for years, he didnt get caught up in behavior that derailed his life from being a upstanding citizen he was the one who derailed others, seemingly without conscience until arrest. Hubris is what probably drew attention of the feds and why they decided to fully investigate.
That being said, if he doesnt see prison bars he is done. Lessons have been learned and Spartanburg can continue to rebuild with its new Sheriff. Your reporting was successful, on to the next. It instills accountability. Thats the purpose.
There are people on second chances who will do this state proud.
So, chuck who?
Classic example of the good ole boy system at work, if Gowdy gets him a pardon or commutation from Trump it totally makes a mockery of the justice system. . Solicitor Black is an upstanding guy but Wilson should have kept the case himself. He couldn’t give it to Barnett because he worked for Gowdy and the new Greenville solicitor was handpicked by Gowdy and was his former chief of staff. Kevin Brackett would have been a better choice but Wilson and he don’t get along