News Release For Immediate Release Solicitor David Pascoe Announces Indictments of Senator John E. Courson Columbia, 5. C. March 17, 2017 - First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe announces that the South Carolina State Grand Jury indicted Senator John E. Courson last night on three (3) charges. The three indictments are for two counts of Misconduct in Of?ce (statutory and common law) and one count of Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses. A bond hearing date has not been set. The defendant will be allowed to formally accept service of the true billed indictments and attend his bond hearing on the same date. Once the date for service of the indictments and the bond hearing is set, the First Circuit Solicitor?s Of?ce will provide ample notice to the media of the date and time. Solicitor Pascoe stated, ?At this point in the process, the indictments are mere accusations. Mr. Courson is presumed innocent until proven guilty. I also need to point out that this is still an ongoing investigation. Therefore, I will have no further comment regarding this matter.? Solicitor Pascoe respectfully requests that the media not contact his of?ce regarding the ongoing State Grand Jury investigation or this case against Mr. Courson. Any request for copies of indictments or future ?lings in this case should be directed to the State Grand Jury Clerk of Court. STATE GRAND JURY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 2017-GS-47-09 ETI IICS ACT VIOLATION STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA -VERSUS- USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR JOHN E. COURSON PERSONAL EXPENSES SC. Code Ann. and 520 DEFENDANT. - \n?va?rvv?I-?w?n?r At a session of the State Grand Jury of South Carolina. convened at Columbia. South Carolina, on this I4th day of March. 20?, the State Grand Jurors present upon their oath: ETHICS VIOLATION USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES SC. Code Ann. and That on or about December 24, 2006 through on or about December 5. 20 2, the Defendant, JOHN E. COURSON. in Richland County. knowineg did use campaign funds to defray personal expenses which were neither related to his campaign nor his of face in the South Carolina Senate, and knowingl did convert campaign funds to personal use. to out: The Defendant unlawfully converted funds from his Senate campaign account to his personal use by passing approximately 3247,8293] through multiple transactions from Defendant's campaign account. to a political consulting firm. First Impressions, Inc. d/b/a Richard Quinn Associates, who then paid approximater $132,302.95 through multiple transactions to Defendant personally. This in violation and ol'tlte SC. Code of Laws, as amended. and against the peace and dignity of the State and contrary to the lavr. QLQK- gab-z: David M. Pascoe First Circuit Solicitor MAR 15 2017 JAMES PI. PARKS CLERK. STATE GRAND JUFIY STATE GRAND JURY OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA 20 17-GS-47-01 -VERSUS- FOR COMMON LAW JOHN E. COURSON MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE DEFENDANT. At a session of the State Grand Jury of South Carolina. convened at Columbia. South Carolina, on this l-?lth day of March. 2017. the State Grand Jurors present upon their oath: COMMON LAW MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE That on or about December 24. 2000 tlu?ough on or about December 5. 20l2, in Richland County, and while an elected member of the South Carolina Senate, the Defendant, JOHN E. COURSON, willfully and dishonestly failed to properly and faithfully discharge the duties of his public office imposed upon him by law, to wit: by using the office and position of Senate Member and by using. his campaign funds to obtain personal profit and bene?t to himself. the Defendant did commit acts or omissions in breach of his duty of good faith and accountability to the public. All against the peace and dignity of the State and in violation of the common law of South Carolina. FELED MAR if 2017 JAM '3 PARKS CLERK. EAND JUFIY wt ?29? Bill David M. Pascoe First Circuit Solicitor STATE GRAND JURY OF SOUTH CAROLINA S'l'A'l'i: OF SOUTH CAROLINA a-l -VERSUS- INDICTMENT FOR IN OFFICE JOHN E. COURSON S.C. Code Ann. ?8-l-80 DEFENDANT. At a session of the State Grand Jury of South Carolina, convened at Columbia, South Carolina, on this 14th day of March. 20?, the State Grand .lurors present upon their oath: MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE S.C. Code Ann. ?S-l-80 That on or about December 24. 2006 through on or about December 5, 2012. in Richland County. the Defendant, JOHN E. COURSON, a public officer, knowingly committed acts and omissions constituting official misconduct, fraud, corruption or habitual negligence. to wit: the Defendant, while an elected member of the South Carolina Senate and Candidate for State Office, did pass contributions to Defendant?s Senate campaign fund through a political consulting firm. First Impressions, Inc. d/b/a Richard Quinn Associates who then remitted funds to Defendant personally, converting campaign funds to personal use in order to obtain personal profit and bene?t. All against the peace and dignity of this State and in violation of ?8-l-80, Code of Laws of South Carolina (I976), as amended. ?t A my? mid M. Pascoe First Circuit Solicitor MR 1 6 2017 JAMES Fl. PARKS CLERK. STATE GRAND JURY