North Augusta native M. Rhett DeHart will serve as the United States’ interim prosecutor for the District of South Carolina following the resignation of US prosecutor Peter M. McCoy Jr. last week.
DeHart previously served as the US District Attorney’s first assistant attorney, overseeing the criminal, civil, appeal and administrative divisions in the South Carolina district, as well as serving as the primary liaison between the US Attorney’s Office and the Judge. US Chief District, according to a press release from the SC Prosecutor’s Office.
Born in North Augusta and residing in Mount Pleasant, DeHart has served as a US assistant attorney in the Charleston district office since 2001, prosecuting numerous crimes while focusing on white collar fraud and child exploitation.
He received the award from the United States Attorney in 2006, 2009 and 2014 and received several law enforcement awards.
DeHart prosecuted hundreds of crimes, wrote 30 appeals documents, tried about 20 jury and non-jury trials and argued seven cases before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the statement said.
Prior to joining the Department of Justice, DeHart was a lawyer on the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, where he oversaw the criminal law section.
Graduated from Honors College at the University of South Carolina, DeHart graduated from Order of the Coif at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
He will serve as the United States’ interim prosecutor for the District of South Carolina until a successor is appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate.