Deputy Chuck Metcalf Will Spend 12 Weekends in Jail for Perjury

Richland County sheriff's deputy Chuck Metcalf will have to spend 12 weekends in jail as punishment for lying in support of the 2005 ill-fated Mansfield drug investigation involving DEA Agent Lee Lucas.

Lucas was acquitted earlier this month of 18 charges, including perjury and obstruction of justice, related to the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, who presided over the Lucas trial, said he would have punished Metcalf to the fullest extent if not for his willingness to assist prosecutors, which included testifying at Lucas' trial. The misdemeanor conviction could have resulted in one year in prison.

"It's a sad case, your case, to me," Oliver told Metcalf, "because you were bound to uphold the law and we all count on law enforcement officials to do that."

Last year, Metcalf admitted lying during the 2006 trial of Dwayne Nabors, who was one of 17 people framed through a series of drug deals orchestrated by paid informant Jerrell Bray. Lucas supervised Bray during the investigation.

Metcalf testified during the Nabors' trial that police had not videotaped a portion of the purported drug deal, even though Metcalf knew a videotape had been made. Metcalf also claimed he and Lucas were in a position to identify Nabors knowing that also was not true.

In a memorandum filed with the court, Metcalf said he lied at the Nabors' trial to match his testimony with a report written by Lucas.

Lucas took the stand during his trial and denied making up testimony.

Prosecutors asked Oliver to show leniency because of Metcalf's cooperation. Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon and Richland County Prosecutor James Mayer spoke on behalf of Metcalf at his sentencing.

Metcalf asked for probation, citing a spotless record.

"His record in these investigations was perfect until he became involved with Special Agent Lee Lucas of the DEA," Metcalf's lawyer wrote in a memorandum filed with the court.

Metcalf argued that even though he lied Nabors trial, his testimony did not result in a drug trafficking conviction. Nabors was acquitted of a conspiracy charge while the jury was hung on a distribution charge. He was found guilty on a gun charge stemming from the search of his home.

Metcalf also argued that he is the only person facing punishment for the failures of the investigation, even though he was outranked on the team by both Lucas and Richland County Sheriff's Captain Larry Faith.