COLUMBIA — U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph R. McCrorey has set a $200,000 bond for former Lee County sheriff Edgar Jerome “E.J.” Melvin, who will be on house arrest with an electronic monitoring device upon his release, after finding probable cause Wednesday afternoon for the charges against him.
Melvin, who had served as sheriff since 2001, and eight others were arrested Saturday and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of powder cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine since 2006.