Sanford spokes- man Joel Sawyer said the governor's office will now begin searching for an interim coroner, but he had no timetable for that process.

The suspension means McKown will not be paid until the charges are resolved. If McKown is convicted, his office will be vacated and the governor will appoint someone to fill the position. If he is acquitted, he'll resume his job. McKown placed himself on paid administrative leave in mid-May, pending the outcome of the case.

On Thursday, a grand jury indicted McKown on charges of distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a prescription drug. The indictments stem from an early May incident in which police say they have a video that shows McKown watching as his girlfriend makes a drug deal in York. McKown and his girlfriend, Erin Jenkins, both turned themselves in to authorities May 17 after being charged in connection with the drug deal.

The deal led to a search warrant, which was executed at McKown's Clover house and yielded other drugs and prescription medication, police said. On July 11, a York County magistrate ruled that he would not release the search warrant, saying the document's immediate release could hinder McKown's right to a fair trial. The Herald had requested the document, and Editor Terry Plumb said Friday that the newspaper will appeal the magistrate's decision.

Until the governor appoints an interim coroner, it appears Chief Deputy Coroner David Chambers will run the office. Chambers has overseen the day-to-day operations since McKown placed himself on administrative leave.

Under state law, both a chief deputy coroner and a magistrate have the authority to perform the duties of the office in the coroner's absence, said Mark Plowden, a spokesman for Attorney General Henry McMaster. Plowden said the attorney general's office would recommend that the chief deputy continue that work.

"That's just plain common sense," he said.

County Manager Al Greene said he had not received any information indicating that Chambers' status had changed.

McKown's attorney, Jack Swerling, was unavailable for comment. However, Kris Hines, a lawyer in Swerling's firm, issued a brief statement:

"The interim suspension, based on the indictment, is premature," she said. "The indictment contains only allegations. Mr. McKown intends to plead not guilty and should be presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law."

Hines said it was too early to talk about any possible deals with prosecutors. Plowden also said he couldn't comment on any negotiations.

Attorney Jim Morton, who represents Jenkins, said she had applied for the county's drug treatment court, which offers some nonviolent offenders a chance to have charges dismissed if they complete a course of counseling, drug treatment and drug testing.

Jenkins' charges include distribution of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine within proximity of a school, possession of cocaine and possession of Ecstasy. She was not indicted Thursday, and Morton said no deal had been reached with prosecutors.

Lack of indictment Indication of prosecution's focus

Kenneth Gaines, a University of South Carolina law professor, said the fact that Jenkins wasn't indicted could be a sign of where the prosecution is focusing.

Gaines said that when more than one person is charged in the same crime, prosecutors often try to get one person to testify against another in exchange for some kind of deal.

"Whoever spills their guts first gets the better break," he said.

Gaines also said prosecutors frequently try to get lesser known people to turn on their celebrity co-defendants. In this case, he believes the prosecution is focusing on McKown.

"That's kind of the philosophy," he said, "going after the big fish."

When reached by phone Friday evening, McKown had little to say.

"Nothing can be said," McKown said. "It's all pretty much done now. ... It's what you call losing it all in one shot."