ANDERSON, S.C. — A former South Carolina sheriff is expected to plead guilty Thursday to federal charges that he stole from his force's benevolence fund and took pain medication that was supposed to be destroyed as part of a pill take-back program.

Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright signed a plea agreement last month with federal prosecutors on charges of conspiring to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiring to commit wire fraud, and obtaining controlled substances through misrepresentation. He is scheduled to appear on Thursday morning at the federal courthouse in Anderson.

Wright will be at least the 12th sheriff in South Carolina to be convicted or plead guilty to on-duty crimes in the past 15 years for misconduct ranging from extorting drug

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