FIRST ON 3: Storms promotes Benston to Chief Deputy

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Interim Bladen County Sheriff Earl Storms told us today that Prentis Benston is now his chief deputy. That could be a problem for the Democratic nominee for Sheriff this fall.

The US Office of Special Counsel investigated Benston to see if he worked with any federal funds, which would be a violation the Hatch Act, which restricts political activity by anyone who works with federal funds. It ruled he did not, so he was cleared to run. But as the Sheriff’s top administrator, it’s reasonable to believe Benston would now be in a position to administer that federal money.

As citizens and taxpayers, we have exercised our right and asked the Office of Special Counsel’s Hatch Act unit to look into Benston’s new job and how it affects his run for Sheriff.