Sheriff releases statement on former Deputy Sheriff’s arrest

Darlington County Sheriff Michael August has issued the following statement regarding the arrest of a former Deputy Sheriff:

On July 30, 2026, it was brought to my attention that there was a discrepancy involving the accounting of a $150 cash payment made by an individual to the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registry (SOR). A newly assigned employee discovered the discrepancy and immediately reported it to me.

Upon conducting a reconciliation of the account and reviewing the corresponding receipts, two additional $150 cash payments were identified as unaccounted for, bringing the total amount in question to $450. It is important to note that the collection of cash payments from individuals is not a normal practice of the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon learning of these discrepancies, I immediately contacted the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and requested an independent investigation. That investigation subsequently led to the arrest of W. Ken Sumner, who retired from the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office on June 14, 2026.

W. Ken Sumner has been arrested and booked into the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is the independent investigating agency in this matter, all future inquiries regarding the investigation or the charges should be directed to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to fully cooperating with SLED throughout the investigation and any subsequent proceedings.

As your Sheriff, I have pledged to operate this office with transparency, integrity, and accountability. That commitment applies equally to everyone, regardless of their position or previous service with this agency.

Mr. Sumner is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, if he is found guilty of these charges, I expect the judicial system to hold him fully accountable under the law.

Theft is not a mistake. It is a conscious decision. When committed by someone entrusted with public responsibility, it represents a betrayal of the public’s trust, a betrayal of this agency, and a betrayal of the men and women of the law enforcement community who serve honorably every day.

The citizens of Darlington County deserve honesty, integrity, and accountability from their Sheriff’s Office. I will continue to ensure that we hold ourselves to that standard and that the public’s trust remains at the forefront of everything we do.

Sheriff Michael B. August

Darlington County Sheriff’s Office