By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall
A Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was cited for domestic simple assault will remain on active duty for the time being, Sheriff Berkley Hall told the Informer today.
The sheriff said he is awaiting the outcome of the court proceedings before deciding if any action should be taken against the deputy, James L. Lewis Jr.
Lewis’ case is in Columbia Municipal Court, and his next appearance is in May, according to Judge Gwen Broom.
“He’s innocent until proven guilty,” said Hall, adding that Lewis was off duty when the alleged incident occurred on Feb. 9.
Lewis, 40, has been a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for less than a year and has been doing a “fantastic” job, Hall noted.
Hall said anyone who has been found guilty of domestic violence cannot continue to work in law enforcement, even if the charge is a misdemeanor like Lewis’.
Lewis was cited for the charge on Feb. 22 by the Columbia Police Department.
Columbia Municipal Court has not allowed public viewing of Lewis’ file. The Informer attempted to look at the file this morning, but Municipal Court Clerk Pearlie Magee said to check with the City Attorney Lawrence Hahn.
The Marion County Informer filed a public records request with the city last week to view the file.
Mayor Reed Houston told the Informer this morning that certain names and Social Security numbers may have to be redacted from the court file before it is opened to the public.
A public records attorney in Jackson has said that the city is breaking the law by denying access to the file. All court files should be open to the public unless there has been a court order to seal the file, said the attorney, Leonard Van Slyke.
“It is my position that a court file should be produced immediately,” Van Slyke wrote in an e-mail to the Marion County Informer.
Van Slyke added that the only things that should be redacted from the file are Social Security numbers, not names.
