Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- A Richland County grand jury has indicted former state Senator Robert Ford on eight charges, accusing him of using his office for personal benefit.
The charges include: one count of Misconduct in Office; one count of Forgery Less than $10,000; and six counts under the Ethics Act, consisting of two counts of Personal Use of Campaign Funds, two counts of Depositing Campaign Contributions into personal bank accounts, and two counts of False Reporting.
Senator Ford resigned from his post in May of 2013.
Former Senator Robert Ford has been order to pay a $30,000 fine, repay more than $14,000 in campaign money
Previous Coverage: SLED Given Ethics Report on Robert Ford, Senator Robert Ford Resigns
The Charleston area lawmaker has been accused of violating ethics laws by using campaign money for personal expenses which included purchases made at two adult stores.
Ford's lawyers told the Senate Ethics Committee that the problems were just sloppy book keeping. In May of 2014, that committee ordered Ford to pay a $30,000 fine and repay more than $14,000 in campaign contributions.
Attorney General Alan Wilson's office says a Richland County grand jury issued the indictments Thursday. Wilson's office says Ford deposited campaign money into his personal bank accounts, filed false campaign reports and submitted forgeries to the Senate Ethics Committee.
Wilson's office says Misconduct in Office is a misdemeanor offense punishable upon conviction by up to ten years imprisonment. The Ethics Act violations are a misdemeanor offense, each punishable upon conviction by one year imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than $5,000. Forgery of Less than $10,000 is a felony punishable upon conviction by five years imprisonment and/or a fine at the discretion of court.
