GAFFNEY, SC (WMBF) A seasoned SLED approved Concealed
Weapons Permit Instructor has been arrested on perjury charges after an
undercover SLED agent reportedly discovered his classes did not meet state requirements.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division,
Richard Lee Wykel, 51, of Roebuck, has been charged with perjury and
subornation of perjury after an incident on Jan. 8 when the undercover SLED
agent attended a CWP class taught by Wykel.
By law, CWP classes must be eight hours long and must
include classroom instruction as well as firing for handgun qualification.
According to SLED, the undercover agent attended the class, paid the $65 fee,
was fingerprinted, filled out an application and was then given the answers to
the test.
The class lasted less than one hour and there was no handgun
qualification, SLED said.
In 1996, Wykel became certified as a SLED approved
instructor after he was certified as a firearms instructor for the South
Carolina Department of Corrections, where SLED said he is no longer employed.
Prior to the undercover operation, retired SLED agent and
current SC House of Representatives member Eddie Tallon received a complaint
and requested the investigation.
Additionally, all students who previously applied for and
received a CWP but have not completed an eight hour class under Wykel are also
subject to perjury charges.
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