Newberry, S.C.; November 18, 2020 – A Newberry man received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole after a Newberry County jury found him guilty Thursday of several charges stemming from a hostage standoff at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Newberry, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced.

Greewnood, S.C.; November 16, 2020 – A Greenwood man was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday morning to charges stemming from a 2019 triple homicide in Abbeville County, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Monday.

Abbeville, S.C.; October 20, 2020 – An Abbeville man was sentenced to 22 years in prison after appearing in court to plead guilty then absconding from his sentencing hearing, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.

Greenwood, S.C.; October 13, 2020 – A Trenton man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to a charge stemming from a June 2019 incident in which he attempted to abduct and assault a young boy in a local Walmart store restroom, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.

Greenwood, S.C.; October 7, 2020 – A Greenwood County man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to charges in connection to a 2019 domestic assault that ended in a standoff with police, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Wednesday.

Laurens, S.C.; October 2, 2020 – A Clinton man will spend the next decade in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to charges connected to the brutal beating of his then-girlfriend, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday morning.

Abbeville, S.C.; September 25, 2020 – An Abbeville man will spend the next two decades in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from a 2018 home invasion in Due West, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday morning.

Greenwood, S.C.; September 24, 2020 – A Ninety Six man will spend the next 35 behind bars after a Greenwood County jury found a man guilty on charges in connection to the 2019 slaying of an Aiken man, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Thursday morning. 

Laurens, S.C.; August 12, 2020 – A Laurens County man will spend the next 55 years in prison after a jury found him guilty late Tuesday evening of a home invasion and brutal 2018 stabbing death of another Laurens County man, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Wednesday morning.

Laurens, S.C.; June 18, 2020 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo announced Thursday that a Gray Court man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in trafficking methamphetamine in Laurens County. 

Zachary Strange, 21, of Gray Court, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute (PWID) methamphetamine, and possession of a stolen vehicle. 

Strange was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Circuit Court Judge Donald Hocker as part of a plea agreement.  Due to the nature of the charges, Strange will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for release.

The first incident occurred in August 2018.  Officers were conducting an undercover narcotics operation in Laurens.  During the operation, Strange was arrested with 9.87 grams of Methamphetamine in his possession.

In May 2019, while out on bond for the first arrest, Strange was driving a vehicle that was reported stolen out of Greenville County.  Strange bailed out of the vehicle when pursued by deputies, who discovered 211 grams of meth in the abandoned car.  Strange was found by the deputies a short time later and taken into custody.

Senior Assistant Solicitor Wade Dowtin prosecuted the case, with assistance from 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Investigator Walter Bentley.  Strange was represented by Deputy Public Defender Chelsea McNeill.

Solicitor Stumbo also praised the work of narcotics investigators Charles Nations and Matt Veal, as well as fellow deputies from Laurens County Sheriff’s Office in helping secure the conviction in the case. 

“Hard street-level drugs like meth, heroin, and fentanyl are taking a wrecking ball to our communities in Laurens County,” said Solicitor Stumbo after the hearing.  “Anyone who profits from the trafficking of these drugs must be stopped and held accountable, and we hope that this long sentence sends a message to those who are committing these crimes before it is too late for them.”