Sheriff ‘Not Concerned’ About Pending Gag Order

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — One day before a motion to impose a gag order on Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has been filed by the attorney of Freddie Grant, the man charged with kidnapping 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson, the sheriff is talking about it. The motion, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RICHLAND vs. FREDDIE GRANT, was filed on August 30, 2012, and was served on Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. The gag order request is in reference to continued press conferences Lott has held with local and national media on the details of the Gabrielle Swainson’s disappearance. The motion claims Lott has been ‘feeding a media frenzy surrounding the disappearance of Gabrielle Swainson’ by repeatedly referring to Grant as a ‘monster’ and should be silenced, as it appears the case is being tried in the media. The motion alleges Lott’s actions ‘do nothing more than poison the community and any potential jury pool that may hear this matter in the future.’ Lott says he will not be present for the gag order motion hearing to take place Friday morning.