Williamsburg County, S.C. — After receiving the indictment of Williamsburg County Sheriff Stephen Gardner, Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive order 2025-13 on Wednesday, suspending Gardner from office and appointing Clemson Wright, Jr. to serve as Williamsburg County Sheriff.

Wright will serve as interim Sheriff until Gardner is acquitted, the indictment is otherwise disposed of, or until a new sheriff is elected and qualifies in the next general election.

This comes after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Wednesday the return of a nine-count indictment by the South Carolina State Grand Jury regarding allegations of public corruption by Williamsburg County Sheriff Gardner and former elected Williamsburg County Supervisor Tiffany Cooks.

According to the indictment, it alleges that Sheriff Gardner and former Supervisor Cooks conspired a “scheme to improperly pay thousands of dollars of government funds to Gardner, and avoid taxes or withholdings on the amounts paid, by routing the government money to Gardner under the guise of checks written to a third party.”

Stephen Gardner is charged with the following offenses:

Count 1: Criminal Conspiracy, § 16-7-410: 0 – 5 years and/or fine of up to $5000

Count 2: Misconduct in Office, Common Law: 0-10 years

Count 4: Receiving Anything of Value to Influence Action of Public Official Ethics Act Violation, § 8-13-705: 0-10 years and/or $0-$10,000

Count 7: Acceptance of Rebates or Extra Compensation, § 16-9-230: 3 mos – 5 years and $100 - $500

Count 8: Money Laundering, Value $20,000 but Less Than $100,000, § 16-9-230: 0-10 years

Tiffany Cook is charged with the following offenses:

Count 1: Criminal Conspiracy, § 16-7-410: 0 – 5 years and/or fine of up to $5000

Count 3: Misconduct in Office, Common Law: 0-10 years

Count 5: Offering Anything of Value to Influence Action of Public Official Ethics Act Violation, § 8-13-705: 0-10 years and/or $0-$10,000

Count 6: Embezzlement, § 16-13-210: 0-10 years and a fine in the discretion of the court

Count 9: Money Laundering, Value $20,000 but Less Than $100,000, § 16-9-230: 0-10 years

Both cases will be prosecuted by the chief attorney of the State Grand Jury Section Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General S. Creighton Waters and Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude.