AG Alan Wilson announces former Florence Co. Sheriff Kenney Boone pleads guilty to embezzlement, misconduct in office

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Jan. 8, 2020 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that former Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone pleaded guilty today to one count of Embezzlement under $5,000 and one count of Common law Misconduct in Office in front of the Honorable William McKinnon in Sumter County. Attorney Butch Bowers represented Mr. Boone.

“While this case is unfortunate, it underscores that no one is above the law, even our law enforcement leaders,” Attorney General Wilson said.

Boone was indicted April 24, 2019 by the State Grand Jury. The indictment alleged that Boone used both county and federal funds allocated to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office for his own personal use. Then on November 18, 2019, the State Grand Jury issued additional indictments: one count of Misconduct in Office and three counts of Campaign Ethics Violations. The indictments alleged Boone received campaign contributions and failed to put them in his campaign account or keep any record of their use and converted them to his personal use.

Boone was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended upon the service of one day, which he already served, and five years of probation that can end after 18 months if he pays full restitution, closes his campaign account, and completes substance abuse and mental health evaluation and treatment.

The ethics charges against him are included in the Misconduct in Office plea so the other charges against him are dismissed.

State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said, “The Attorney General’s Office and SLED consider the investigation into the inappropriate spending of county monies and the matter into former Florence County Sheriff William "Kenney" Boone closed.  The emphasis on the Florence Sheriff’s Office should now be placed where it belongs, on the men and women of the FCSO providing quality law enforcement services to the citizens of Florence County.”