Alex Murdaugh admits guilt on state financial charges
Alex Murdaugh, convicted of murdering his wife and son, pleads guilty to state financial charges Attorney general hails the guilty plea as a significant victory
Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is already incarcerated for the murder of his wife and son, has now pleaded guilty to multiple state financial charges. These charges include money laundering, breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, and tax evasion. The guilty plea was part of a plea deal that Murdaugh's defense team negotiated with the prosecutors. The plea deal was disclosed after a lengthy delay in the pretrial hearing, originally intended to address a motion for a change of venue and other matters pertaining to Murdaugh's impending state financial trials in Beaufort County.
Murdaugh faced numerous state charges related to alleged scams aimed at defrauding victims out of millions of dollars. The charges against him encompassed embezzlement, computer crime, money laundering, and tax evasion.
The lead prosecutor, Creighton Waters, stated that the proposed deal would bring closure to the case and guarantee that Murdaugh would remain incarcerated in a state prison for an extensive duration. If approved, the agreement would result in Murdaugh serving a 27-year sentence at a South Carolina state prison, as indicated by Waters.
In court, Waters meticulously presented the specifics of the numerous charges spanning several South Carolina counties, to which Murdaugh has accepted guilt. Methodically, he divulged the intricate web of schemes, going through each victim and assigning the mutually agreed prison sentences.
Upon being questioned by Judge Clifton Newman about his concurrence with Waters' account of the crimes, Murdaugh expressed dissent, stating disagreement with "certain aspects of the narrative."
"I agree that I wrongly took all of that money and did all of those crimes. I disagree with some of the narrative," Murdaugh said.
Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction in a double murder trial. The sentencing took place at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on Friday, March 3, 2023, after he was found guilty on all four counts.
Alex Murdaugh is acknowledging his guilt and expressing his belief that he would have been convicted. He is grateful for the chance to plead guilty and has several reasons for being pleased to do so.
Newman's approval and setting of the official sentence are necessary for the deal. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled by Newman for November 28.
In a statement, attorneys Eric "EB" Bland and Ronnie Richter, representing several victims, expressed that Alex Murdaugh's guilty plea will enable the start of the healing process for his financial victims. They emphasized that while justice may not always be flawless, there should be no doubt that justice was indeed served in this particular case.
Convicted of murdering his wife and son at his South Carolina Lowcountry estate, Murdaugh is currently serving two life sentences in prison. However, the disbarred attorney still has several state and federal cases pending, with over 100 additional charges against him.
When Judge Newman asked if he desired to retract his previous not guilty pleas, Murdaugh, donning an orange prison jumpsuit, straightforwardly responded, "Yes, sir."
The plea deal stipulates that Murdaugh must surrender his right to appeal. Furthermore, the agreement solely pertains to the state financial charges, failing to address any other county charges that Murdaugh is confronting.
Attorney general calls guilty plea âa winâ
Judge Newman stated that he would only accept the plea agreement if all the requirements from the Victims Bill of Rights are met. In accordance with the South Carolina Constitution, victims involved in a criminal case are safeguarded, ensuring their right to be heard during proceedings and to receive compensation from the offender.
"Alex's victims will have the opportunity to confront Alex Murdaugh face-to-face, along with his legal team, and express their personal sentiments regarding his actions, the psychological manipulation they endured, and the immense harm inflicted upon their lives," declared the attorneys representing the victims.
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison in March after being convicted in the double murder of his wife and son.
Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier/Pool/AP
Alex Murdaugh has entered a guilty plea to federal charges of fraud and money laundering, as confirmed by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Wilson stated that this development is a triumph for both the victims and the pursuit of justice in South Carolina.
"We trust that the families he betrayed and stole from will find solace in the fact that he will be serving time for his crimes," Wilson stated. "In South Carolina, nobody, regardless of their surname, status, or affiliations, is exempt from the law."
If approved, this would mark Murdaugh's second plea agreement.
Murdaugh was separately convicted of numerous federal charges in September, which included wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. These charges involved the embezzlement of millions of dollars from his clients. If found guilty, the maximum punishment for these charges could result in 20 years of imprisonment, while some carry a maximum sentence of 30 years. The sentencing will be determined at a later date.
In March 2023, Alex Murdaugh was found guilty by a Colleton County jury of fatally shooting his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their family's hunting estate in June 2021. Judge Newman subsequently sentenced Murdaugh to two consecutive life sentences in a state prison in South Carolina. Currently, Murdaugh is serving this sentence.
The appeal of Murdaugh's murder convictions is currently suspended as his defense team seeks a new trial on the grounds of jury tampering by Colleton County Clerk. Clerk Becky Hill has refuted these allegations through a signed affidavit submitted to the court this month. Judge Newman has recused himself from presiding over any post-trial motions concerning Murdaugh's murder case. A verdict is still pending on whether Murdaugh will be granted a new trial.
