1. Drugs prescribed to deceased individuals
2. Medications found in former coroner’s possession.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A former employee of the coroner’s office in Aiken County, South Carolina, has been charged with multiple crimes after being found in possession of drugs that were prescribed to individuals whose deaths he had investigated. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced that Alton Jeffery Smith, a 60-year-old resident of Aiken, is facing charges of misconduct in office and possession of controlled substances.
Smith, who previously served as the chief deputy coroner at the Aiken County Coroner’s Office, was with the office from September 22, 2018, until June 10, 2023. It is unclear whether Smith resigned or was terminated from his position.
On June 10, 2023, authorities from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Smith’s residence and discovered drugs that were not prescribed to him or any other occupants of the home. These drugs, which included Percocet EQ, oxycodone-acetaminophen, zolpidem tartrate, and alprazolam, were linked to death investigations that Smith had been involved in as part of his duties as deputy coroner.
According to an arrest warrant, Smith failed to document the medications seized during the death investigations he conducted, resulting in the unauthorized possession of these drugs. He was subsequently taken into custody and booked at the Aiken County Detention Center.
The 2nd Circuit Solicitor’s Office will be responsible for prosecuting Smith on the charges he is facing. If convicted of the drug possession offence, which is considered a first offense, Smith could potentially face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of £1,000 under South Carolina law. Similarly, a conviction on the misconduct in office charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a £1,000 fine.
As of Tuesday morning, Smith was not listed on the inmate roster at the Aiken County Detention Center, and details regarding his bond status were not available. The case is ongoing, and further developments are expected as the legal process unfolds.
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– Drugs prescribed to deceased individuals
– Prescription medications found in ex-coroner’s possession.
