SC lawmaker suspended after misconduct, contributing to delinquency of minor charges
A South Carolina lawmaker has been indicted on charges that he allegedly tried to use his power to influence an investigation and provided a minor with alcohol, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
State Rep. Rick Martin, R-Newberry, was indicted Friday morning on charges of misconduct in office and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
As usual practice, on Friday House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, suspended Martin effective immediately from the House. Martin will remain suspended until the criminal case against him is resolved, and either he is reinstated or the seat is declared vacant, the speaker’s letter said.
Martin did not return a request for comment Friday.
The indictment against Martin, who has served in the state House since 2017, alleges that he tried to influence an investigation at the state Department of Social Services between December 2019 and the end of January 2020. The second indictment alleges that Martin provided a woman under the age of 21 with an alcoholic beverage in January 2019.
A spokesperson for Social Services declined to comment on the indictments, but said the department is cooperating with law enforcement.
Martin’s State House bio said he has four children, and has been a foster parent since 2010. However, the state’s child-welfare agency said Martin is no longer a licensed foster parent, and there have been no placements in his home since December 2019.
His foster home license expired in May of this year, the spokesperson said.
Martin will appear in a Newberry County Court at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 10:26 AM with the headline "SC lawmaker suspended after misconduct, contributing to delinquency of minor charges."
