In Their Defense: State v. Richard Inman (2022)

From Cop to Convict: The Case That Challenged the Court of Public Perception

In Their Defense: State v. Richard Inman (2022) | Photo by Abby Murphy Photography

In 2022, defense attorney Erin Bailey took on one of the most complex - and publicly scrutinized - cases of her career. Her client, Richard Inman, was no stranger to law enforcement. In fact, he was law enforcement.

A former police chief in South Carolina, Inman had once upheld the law in the very communities he would later shock by committing two bank robberies. His fall from grace made headlines across the country - covered by outlets from The Post and Courier and GAB News on to The Washington Post.

But behind the viral story was a deeper truth - one Erin Bailey was determined to make sure both the courts of law and public opinion didn’t overlook.

The Case

Inman’s second robbery took place in 2019, when he walked into a Pawleys Island bank and demanded money. It was a crime that mirrored a previous robbery he committed in the Upstate of South Carolina in 2017 - one for which he had already served time.

When he was arrested  on his second bank robbery, he didn’t run, deny or deflect. He told his truth.

But the truth, as Erin would come to learn, was layered.

After a decades-long career in law enforcement, Inman had undergone emergency surgery for a brain tumor. According to him, and later echoed in psychological evaluations, the surgery left him changed. 

In the aftermath, he experienced severe depression, impulse control issues, and an unraveling sense of identity.

Erin quickly realized this case wasn’t about whether he did it. It was about why - and what that meant in terms of justice.

The Trial

By the time Erin Bailey stepped in as his criminal defense attorney, Richard Inman had already admitted to the crime. This wasn’t a case built on claims of innocence - it was a case about why he did what he did, and what a just outcome looked like in light of that.

The public had its version of the story. But in the courtroom, Erin was determined to tell the full one.

She introduced expert evaluations that spoke to Inman’s neurological and psychological decline following a brain tumor and subsequent surgery - evidence that helped explain his unraveling, not excuse it. She traced the arc from respected police chief to deeply unstable, untreated patient, creating a clear picture of a man in mental health crisis.

Erin’s strategy wasn’t to deny the facts. It was to reframe them - to ensure Inman wasn’t reduced to a headline or punchline, but recognized as a human being shaped by trauma, illness and consequence.

Inman pled guilty. But the sentence he received reflected more than the charge - it showed that the court had absorbed the full picture: a man deeply impacted by illness, remorseful, and committed to telling the truth about what led him there. 

He was sentenced to five years in prison on a lesser included offense - a notable departure from the 10 to 30 year sentence for the crime he was originally charged with. It was a rare acknowledgment that even when the facts are clear, the why still matters.

The Person

What began as a legal defense evolved into something much deeper. After the case concluded, Richard Inman asked Erin to help him tell his story.

Over two days and hours of raw conversation via Zoom, they recorded what would become the Cop to Convict series - a 27-part TikTok playlist documenting his life, in his own words. Inman spoke openly about the choices he made, the demons he battled, and the damage left in the wake - addiction, self-harm, guilt, grief and the flicker of hope he was still chasing.

Erin didn’t just interview him. She bore witness to a man reckoning with his past, searching for meaning, and doing his best to ensure what happened to him might not happen to someone else.

He hoped to use his story to educate others - about mental health, invisible trauma, and the warning signs he wished he’d seen sooner.

He never got that chance.

In 2024, Richard Inman passed away. He died of natural causes in his own home; a free man.

Why It Matters

For Erin, this case wasn’t about legal loopholes or courtroom theatrics. It was about compassion in the face of public judgment - and about telling the full story when most had stopped listening.

It’s easy to reduce someone like Richard Inman to a headline. But Erin’s role wasn’t to rewrite the facts. It was to provide perspective, hold space for accountability, and make sure the court - and the public - saw the human behind the headlines.

This case is a reminder that people charged with crimes are still people. Mental health, trauma and medical history matter. And that a strong defense doesn’t always mean proving innocence - it can mean showing up for someone during their darkest days and making sure they’re seen in full.

Erin Bailey stood in his defense not to excuse what he’d done, but to advocate for a sentence rooted in context, dignity and care.

The Outcome

Richard Inman died a free man. Not because the system failed - but because his attorney fought for understanding, compassion and a sentence rooted in reason.

He was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2019 bank robbery, with credit for nearly two and a half years served pre-sentencing. He completed his sentence and was released prior to his passing in 2023.

He left behind two sons, a grandchild, and a mother who never stopped believing in him.

And he left behind a story - one Erin Bailey will continue to carry forward. 🔗 Watch the full 27-part interview series, Cop to Convict, on TikTok by visiting @ErinBaileyLaw and tapping the playlist tab on her profile.

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If you or a loved one are facing serious charges, don’t leave your future to chance. Contact trial lawyer Erin Bailey today to discuss your case. * Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.