By PSA Newsroom Staff
MANNING, S.C. — Michael Wilson Pearson, a former Clarendon County resident who spent more than 15 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, has filed a sweeping civil lawsuit alleging that misconduct, constitutional violations and systemic failures by multiple government agencies and officials led to his wrongful conviction and prolonged imprisonment.
The lawsuit, filed January 30, 2026, in Clarendon County Court of Common Pleas, names county, municipal and state entities, along with individual officials involved in Pearson’s investigation and prosecution. Pearson is seeking damages for what his attorneys describe as years lost to an unjust conviction that should have been avoided and corrected far sooner.
A Long Road to Exoneration
Pearson was arrested in 2011 and convicted in 2012 on charges including armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping and grand larceny stemming from a 2010 home invasion in Clarendon County. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on a single fingerprint recovered from a stolen vehicle, evidence that Pearson has long maintained was unreliable and improperly handled.
Despite Pearson’s consistent claims of innocence, he was sentenced to decades in prison and remained incarcerated for more than 15 years.
Over time, evidence undermining the conviction continued to surface. Co-defendants repeatedly stated that Pearson was not involved in the crime, and additional materials, including exculpatory statements and investigative records, raised serious questions about the integrity of the original prosecution.
In August 2025, Pearson’s conviction was vacated. Prosecutors dismissed all remaining charges the following month, formally clearing him after more than a decade and a half behind bars.
Who Is Being Sued
Pearson’s civil complaint names the following government entities as defendants:
- Clarendon County, South Carolina, for its role in law enforcement policies and oversight
- Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the case and arrested Pearson
- Third Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which prosecuted Pearson under then-Solicitor Ernest “Chip” Finney III
- South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, which participated in appellate and post-conviction proceedings
- City of Sumter, related to law enforcement actions tied to the investigation
The lawsuit also names Ernest “Chip” Finney III, who served as Third Circuit Solicitor at the time of Pearson’s prosecution, along with unnamed officers and officials alleged to have participated in investigative, prosecutorial or evidence-disclosure failures.
Allegations of Misconduct
Pearson’s lawsuit asserts that his conviction was not the result of a simple mistake, but of reckless and unconstitutional conduct that continued even as evidence of innocence mounted.
Among the key allegations:
- Malicious prosecution and false imprisonment, asserting that authorities lacked probable cause and continued pursuing the case despite contrary evidence
- Flawed forensic practices, including claims that fingerprint analysis was conducted improperly after investigators supplied Pearson’s name, rather than through blind comparison methods
- Withholding or ignoring exculpatory evidence, including co-defendant statements, investigative materials and information favorable to the defense
- Constitutional violations, particularly due process failures tied to evidence disclosure obligations
The lawsuit also alleges that efforts to resolve Pearson’s case were conditioned on improper demands, including claims that Solicitor Finney required Pearson to waive his right to pursue civil claims and agree not to return to Clarendon County, conditions Pearson’s attorneys argue were unlawful and punitive.
Legislative Intervention and the Push for Review
Pearson’s eventual exoneration did not occur in isolation. State Rep. Fawn Pedalino and Sen. Jeff Zell played a key role in pressing for renewed scrutiny of the case, helping elevate concerns that had gone unanswered for years. Their involvement helped catalyze a broader review that ultimately contributed to the conviction being overturned.
Legal Representation
Pearson is represented in his civil lawsuit by attorneys experienced in wrongful conviction and civil rights litigation. His legal team has emphasized that the case is about more than compensation, it is about accountability and preventing similar failures in the future.
Seeking Accountability and Reform
In his lawsuit, Pearson is seeking actual and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and a jury trial. His attorneys say the litigation is intended to expose systemic weaknesses in forensic practices, prosecutorial decision-making and evidence disclosure that extend beyond a single case.
For Pearson, the lawsuit represents an effort to reclaim dignity after losing more than 15 years of his life and to ensure that what happened to him does not happen to someone else.
See the YouTube video provided by Jody Barr of Queen City News who investigated;
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1H9escy3Fs
The suit filing can be found at:
https://www.sccourts.org/case-records-search/
