Corps of Engineers employee charged in deputy’s death

ANDERSON, S.C. – An employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been charged in the death of a South Carolina sheriff’s deputy who was thrown from a boat during a training accident.

News outlets reported 37-year-old Joseph Jess Fleming of Pendleton has been charged with reckless homicide by boat.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged Fleming late last week in the June 1 death of 30-year-old Anderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Hodges.

Robert McCullough with the Natural Resources Department said Fleming is a ranger at Lake Hartwell and was operating the boat Hodges was thrown from during the exercise.

Coroner Greg Shore said Hodges’ life jacket became entangled in the boat propeller when he was fell from the boat.

It was not known if Fleming has an attorney.