Ex-DOT official stays in SC jail for violating probation by soliciting a prostitute
COLUMBIA — A federal judge refused Wednesday to let a former South Carolina transportation official out of jail while he awaits his fate for violating his probation by trying to hire a prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover officer.
John Hardee, who was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair wearing an orange jumpsuit, will remain in the Lexington County jail until another judge decides whether to send him to federal prison.
The 72-year-old was arrested Aug. 8 on the misdemeanor charge just one day after getting a lenient sentence for obstructing a federal bribery investigation.
His first text to the officer he thought was a prostitute came within nine hours of him leaving the federal courthouse on a sentence of 18 months of probation — which included 45 days of house arrest — and promising he was a law-abiding citizen who would never do anything to require him to be back in a courtroom again, prosecutors explained Wednesday to U.S. Magistrate Shiva Hodges.
Read more: https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/ex-dot-official-stays-in-sc-jail-for-violating-probation/article_9d7c22f8-c420-11e9-b382-37569d5599ca.html