Spartanburg County Council District 1 representative Monier Abusaft was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, May 14, for a motion hearing related to a third-degree assault and battery charge filed after his arrest on March 5, 2026, according to court records reviewed by multiple regional news organizations.
Abusaft, 36, was arrested by USC Upstate Police on March 5 following an incident at a Black History Month event held on the USC Upstate campus in Spartanburg. Booking records showed Abusaft was charged with assault and battery in the third degree, a misdemeanor offense carrying a potential penalty of up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine if convicted. At a bond hearing, a judge set his bond at $1,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The March 2026 arrest was the second assault-related case involving Abusaft in fewer than 18 months. In 2025, he was charged with third-degree assault and battery following a dispute with a resident on Bomar Avenue in Spartanburg, an incident that, according to police records, involved an altercation over trash cans blocking a roadway. That earlier charge was dismissed in October 2025. Abusaft’s attorney at the time stated that the investigation had uncovered false witness testimony and information that had been withheld from the magistrate when the initial warrant was issued.
Abusaft has represented District 1 on Spartanburg County Council since January 2021. His district covers portions of the Northside, Southside, Una, and Arkwright neighborhoods of Spartanburg. His current term is scheduled to run through January 2029. In addition to his elected role, he operates Mo Abusaft Law, a private practice in Spartanburg focused primarily on criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation.
The May 14 hearing is a motion hearing, not a trial. Motion hearings in South Carolina criminal proceedings typically address procedural or evidentiary matters, such as motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, or scheduling requests, before a case proceeds to trial or is otherwise resolved. Court records as of Wednesday, May 13, confirmed the hearing was scheduled before a Spartanburg County judge.
Abusaft has consistently maintained his innocence in connection with the March 2026 arrest. After his arrest, he publicly stated that he looked forward to having the case adjudicated and that he intended to continue serving his constituents on county council. He hosted a constituent town hall in March 2026 shortly after his arrest, addressing community members directly about the charges and his role on the council.
Separately, a Spartanburg County Council special meeting — designated as a Budget Workshop — was posted for Thursday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m. in County Council Chambers at the County Administrative Office Building at 366 North Church Street. That meeting addresses the county’s upcoming fiscal year budget and is a regularly scheduled part of the annual budget process, separate from any proceedings involving Abusaft.
