Hearing scheduled for ex-state Sen. Robert Ford

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former Sen. Robert Ford is scheduled to appear in court on eight charges that include misconduct in office, forgery and ethics violations.

State prosecutors say a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Columbia for the Charleston Democrat.

Last month, Attorney General Alan Wilson said Ford had been indicted on misconduct in office, forgery and six Ethics Act violations. Wilson says Ford improperly benefited from his public office, using campaign money for personal use, then filing false campaign reports and submitting forgeries to the Senate Ethics Committee.

Ford resigned about a year and a half ago during hearings on similar allegations that he used campaign donations for personal expenses, misrepresented his spending, failed to report numerous expenses and personal loans, and then tried to cover it up.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP