Alex Underwood spent thousands on first class travel which he said he needed because he is a 'very large man' South Carolian sheriffs have been flying first class, bullying their staff and lining their pockets with taxpayers' money for decades, according to a scathing new report. According to an investigation by the The Post and Courier, the sheriffs have been taking advantage of not being bound by the same restrictions which state and federal employees come under when it comes to luxurious travel and eating out. Some have been indicted for their misconduct but others, including Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood, insist their actions are above board. Underwood has charged thousands of dollars of first class travel to the job. Underwood and his deputy took their wives to a conference in Reno in 2017. They flew first class and Underwood upgraded their room for $600. He also hired a chauffeur for $350 to take them to and from the airport. He claims that he and Sprouse paid for their wives flights themselves and that he upgraded his room because he needed a big enough bed for his feet not to hang off the end of it. His first class travel, he said, was because is a 'very large man with prior knee surgeries and on-going medical issues. 'First class was the best option,' he wrote in an email to the newspaper. Underwood upgraded his room during a conference in Reno at the Atlantis hotel (shown) for an additional $600. He said it was because he needed a bed big enough for his feet not to dangle off the edge Sheriff Al Cannon opted for a $3,000 leather office chair that was twice as expensive as the same model in other materials because he said he had a bad back Others include Sheriff Larry Dalton Williams who spent $72,000 on a motor home. No one found out about it until after he died. Jason Boothe, the former sheriff of Saluda County, used an inmate to build a 'party shed' for him. In exchange, the prisoner was allowed to spend nights outside the jail, visit his girlfriend and eat in restaurants. He was told to pay a $900 fine for misconduct and was given a probation sentence as well as losing his job. Another, Sheriff Al Cannon from Charleston County, spent $3,110 on a Mont Blanc leather office chair. The leather option he went for was twice as expensive as other materials. He claimed it was to help his back problems. Former Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth had an inmate build him a party shed in exchange for favors. The shed is pictured. He lost his job over misconduct and went on trial in 2012 Boothe also had the inmate build him a fence on his property (shown) Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace let deputies use his charge card during trips to Hooters. Jason Boothe had a prison inmate build him a 'party shed'. He lost his job, was given a probation prison sentence himself and was told to pay a $900 fine After being questioned about it by the newspaper, the department's chief deputy sent an email told them not put those outings on the department's cards any more. Some became irate when challenged over their expenses. Kenny Boone, the Florence County Sheriff, scolded Kevin Yokim, the finance director, for questioning his charging three hotel rooms from a conference to the county. One was for a retired sheriff and Boone said he needed two for himself. 'Kevin, I don’t have to get permission from you for anything that I do. ... This is the last time that I will give you any explanation on anything that I do. 'Don’t question me again,' he said in an email to the director. The sheriffs are in a unique position because they are in charge of their departments. There are now calls for them to have to adhere to county government laws when it comes to spending. All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility