McKown says he made 'stupid mistake'

YORK, S.C. -- The embattled coroner of York County is stepping down less than a week after his second arrest involving alcohol and drugs.

“I made an incredibly stupid mistake,” said Doug McKown.

His resignation comes just two months after he fought to get his job back after a jury acquitted him on three felony drug charges. That same jury convicted him of a misdemeanor drug charge and put him on probation.

This latest arrest for drinking while driving violated that probation, so he says after three days of reflection with friends and family, he’s resigning.

"It's what’s right. I made a mistake and I'm gonna own up to it," McKown said.

While the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department charged McKown with drinking while driving, he says the beers in his truck belonged to the friend he picked up. He admits drinking earlier in the day, but says his only mistake involved bad judgment.

"I picked up somebody that had beer with them in a county vehicle,” he said.

But he says he never imagined stepping down after almost 14 years on the job.

"Resigning is one of the last things I ever wanted to do, but nobody's perfect," McKown said.

He admits having open beers in a county truck was stupid.

"I don't think that’s what the citizens of York County really expect of somebody they elect to an office. That warrants me resigning. That’s the right thing to do," he said.

McKown says he’ll officially resign in the next two to three weeks. First though, he faces a court hearing for a probation violation. If it doesn’t go his way, he could go to jail for up to a year.