Former Aiken County Councilman sues Aiken County Sheriff

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By Arielle Clay aclay@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Jul 4, 2009 at 1:42 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 4, 2009 at 1:42 PM EDT

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. - A former Aiken County Councilman is suing the Aiken County Sheriff.

William R. Ferrara filed a summons and complaint on Wednesday against Sheriff Michael Hunt. A summons and complaint is the initial court document filed in a lawsuit.

Ferrara served on Aiken County Council from 1993 to 1996. He faced accusations of sexual misconduct after his time on the council. In 2005 Ferrara was charged with committing a lewd act on a 13-year-old girl. He was accused of fondling the girl. Then in 2006 Ferrara was arrested for another sex crime. He was accused of improperly touching an Aiken woman and asking her for sex in exchange for rent.

In 2008 Ferrara had all charges against him dropped. The Aiken County solicitor at the time said the case was dropped because there were credibility issues with the accusers.

The cause for the lawsuit is not clear.

NBC Augusta 26 News will bring you more information as we get it.

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Thursday, Aug 6 at 10:25 PM Cain's Overcharge wrote ...

This is not the first time that Sheriff's Deputy Chuck Cain has been sued for not properly performing his job. One time a women lost her life and he was sued for this. He is costing Aiken County taxpayers thousands of dollars defending these lawsuits. Can't believe that he charged the councilman with assault and battery high and aggravated when all that was alleged was unlawful touching without any allegation of an intent to inflict serous bodily injury: an inappropriate overcharge.

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Wednesday, Jul 8 at 4:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This 80 page civil suit, 2009CP0201529, is available in the Aiken County Clerk of Court's Office. We are surprised that Brenda Brisbin, prosecutor, and Chuck Cain, lead investigator, believed anything that the alleged victim, Kari Driggers, told them about this case given her previous CDV conviction, bipolar disorder and numerous run-ins with law enforcement in Aiken County.

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Tuesday, Jul 7 at 11:15 AM Mark wrote ...

Before the 1st charge (with the 13yo girl) went to trial he was charged with the trade-sex-for-rent with his female renter. The courts used a little common sense and looked upon MR.Ferrara as a SEX PREDATOR. Hince, house arrest. Coincidence? You be the judge. But I would not want him around my teenage daughter.

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Tuesday, Jul 7 at 10:23 AM Jenny wrote ...

Why did they put him on house arrest for so long when they didn't have a case against him? Did the State pay for the monitoring cost?

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Tuesday, Jul 7 at 8:29 AM John wrote ...

Why is he suing the sheriff? It's hard to beleive that he was on house arrest before being convicted. How does that work?

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Monday, Jul 6 at 6:07 PM Money wrote ...

I just watched the 6:00pm news what a pile of SH**. Like I said he wants MONEY!!!

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 11:23 PM deb wrote ...

the whole lot of the s.c. judicial system are a bunch of who can make your life most miserable. they are all hand in hand making deals.i have found out that all one has to do is accuse and it will ruin a life.especilly when the evidence clearly puts a person far away from where the "alledged" crime happened. damage is done. trying to fix the wrongs that has been done by BRISBIN and staff have done is very hard, evil is there.

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 8:01 PM Money wrote ...

Thomas: Why would they want Mr. Ferrara to sit in jail? They let everyone else go. Also, I think the “two year house arrest” was after the second charge in 2006.

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 5:48 PM thomas wrote ...

I hope Mr. Ferrara sues aiken county, sheriff, sheriff's office, brenda brisben, barbra morgan.

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:06 AM Money wrote ...

You will see it’s all about money. I think Donna is correct.

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 8:29 AM Mary wrote ...

It seems like they should have determined that the alleged victim was not credible before they arrested him. Why did it take two years to do this and then just drop all the charges? That doesn't make a lot of sense???

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 1:45 AM Money wrote ...

I don't think he was on house arrest for two years.

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 12:30 AM donna wrote ...

the councilman tried to touch my daughter but I was there to stop him you like him your trash like him

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Sunday, Jul 5 at 12:28 AM donna wrote ...

all of the people in the comment section are stupid you should be in jail with the councilman

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Saturday, Jul 4 at 7:17 PM Thomas wrote ...

Are you stupid? This man may have been guilty of these things but to be held on house arrest for two years was stupid. Brenda Brisbin of the Solicitor's office wanted him to sit in jail until trial but Judge Carter had the discretion of jail or house arrest. He chose to put a monitor on him. But still two years of not being able to leave the house was a sentence. Two years of his life was put on hold, just for spite. I hope he sues everyone connected with the charges.

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Saturday, Jul 4 at 7:05 PM Jim wrote ...

Sheriff Hurt again !!!!

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Saturday, Jul 4 at 6:27 PM Money wrote ...

WTF!

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