Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash sued over jail fee

ST. GEORGE — The man who got Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash to drop a controversial $15 inmate processing fee has filed a complaint saying he didn't get his money back after he was arrested and found innocent.

Thomas C. Limehouse of Summerville filed the complaint April 24. Nash is named as the defendant and has 30 days after he receives the complaint to respond.

The complaint says Limehouse was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct Sept. 1. Deputies confiscated $961.25 in cash Limehouse was carrying, according to the complaint, which is standard procedure. When Limehouse was released on bond the next day, he was given a check for $946.25, according to the complaint.

At the time, Nash was charging inmates a $15 processing fee. Nash said inmates could get the money back if they were later found innocent, but they needed to ask for a refund.

Limehouse said he was cleared of the disorderly conduct charges Nov. 21, but he never got his $15 back. He's asking for a jury trial and unspecified punitive damages.

Nash said Wednesday he had not yet received the complaint. He said he has no record that Limehouse ever asked for a refund but would send him a $15 check.

"I'll take the filing of the lawsuit as his official request for reimbursement," Nash said.

Nash quit charging the processing fee after County Council questioned whether it was legal. Council questioned the fee after Limehouse complained to Sen. Randy Scott.

Read more in Thursday's Post and Courier.