Charge Dropped for Army Corps Employee in SC Deputy's Death

Charges have been dropped against a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee in the death of a South Carolina sheriff's deputy thrown from a boat during a training accident.

Attorney Beattie Ashmore tells The Associated Press reckless homicide by boat charges were dropped Monday against his client, 37-year-old Joseph Jess Fleming.

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

State prosecutors tell local media they can't prosecute because of a statute precluding the state from prosecuting a federal law enforcement officer for state infractions.