The latest chapter in the Doug McKown saga unfolded this week.
Even before his trial, folks close to this situation thought York County's coroner would seek back pay if he was found not guilty of felony drug charges.
So it’s not too surprising that McKown is finally asking to be paid for the nearly two years he was suspended from office.
McKown’s claim is that he was suspended for charges he was acquitted of. Therefore, he said Wednesday, he should be paid for the time he missed.
But county officials say they followed Gov. Mark Sanford’s orders and taxpayers footed the bill for an interim coroner. Two people shouldn’t be paid for the same job, they said, especially when only one did any work.
Kathy Williams, assistant director of the S.C. Association of Counties, called the situation “highly unusual” and said most officials who are suspended from office are found guilty of the charges that caused their suspensions.
That’s obviously not the case here.
State law doesn’t address back pay, Williams said. But a 2004 legal opinion from the state Attorney General’s Office seems to answer the question.
That opinion was about the state's former Agriculture Commissioner Charles Sharpe, who was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting he took $10,000 to protect a cockfighting operation.
Before Sharpe’s conviction, the question of back pay was raised. Specifically, would he get it if acquitted? The attorney general’s office said no.
Although that opinion is based on case law, it is still just an opinion, one McKown and his lawyers don’t share.
Readers, what do you think? Should McKown collect? Or is the county right in not paying him? Please share.
If the charge was the only reason for the suspension...
He absolutely deserves his pay. As his team says, without the charges, he's working as normal and, yes, earning that pay.
Always remember...don't let FACTS get in the way of your argument...