Executive’s lawyer: Deal made not to oppose parole

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The lawyer for a former executive whose early release from prison was revoked because officials didn’t tell the South Carolina attorney general’s office that he was up for parole says he had a deal that prosecutors wouldn’t oppose his release in the first place.

O. Grady Query said Friday that lawyers from the attorney general’s office told Ronnie Sheppard in 2009 that if he agreed to testify against another HomeGold executive, then they would not oppose his request for parole.

Sheppard was not asked to testify at former HomeGold chairman Jack Sterling’s 2009 trial.

Attorney general spokesman Mark Plowden says that’s because prosecutors thought he wasn’t telling the whole truth and that voided any agreement for them to not oppose his parole.

Sheppard’s new parole hearing will be Jan. 18.