CHARLES TILLMAN
Abbeville, S.C.; January 26, 2018 – Following a week-long trial that stretched into the early evening hours Friday, an Abbeville County jury returned guilty verdicts on an Iva man who killed his long-time girlfriend in November 2016. Continue reading
Greenwood, S.C.; December 13, 2017 – The Christmas season is often associated with merry family gatherings and celebrations bursting at the seams with yuletide glee. For many families, however, the Christmas season can be a disheartening time as parents struggle to provide a nice Christmas for their children. Continue reading
Henry Kevin Grant
Laurens, S.C.; November 29, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Wednesday that a Laurens man will be spending the next several years in prison after he threatened to kill two Laurens police officers and rape one of the officers’ infant daughter. Continue reading
Calvin Whitener
Newberry, S.C.; November 16, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Thursday that a North Carolina man was convicted of trafficking cocaine, third or subsequent offense, after the man failed to appear for his court date.
Calvin Whitener, 43, of Kings Mountain, N.C., was found guilty by a Newbery County jury of trafficking cocaine, third and subsequent offense, following a two-day trial at the Newberry County Courthouse.
Circuit Judge Frank Addy issued a sentence, but the sentence will remain sealed until Whitener can be brought before the court to have the sentence read onto the record. The sentence range is between 25 and 30 years and carries a fine of up to $50,000.
Whitener was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for speeding in September 2014 near the intersection of S.C. 56 and Mudlick road in Chappells, S.C. The vehicle was recorded doing 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver was driving on a suspended license and one of the other passengers in the vehicle was wanted out of Gaffney, S.C. Officers searched Whitener and discovered about 36 grams of cocaine hidden in Whitener’s underwear and nearly $800 in cash in his pocket.
A bench warrant was issued for Whitener’s arrest after he failed to appear for his mandated court dates. The case was moved into failure to appear statues in on April 16, 2015. Whitener’s attorney, Ricky Harris, of the Spartanburg County Bar, contacted prosecutors and asked for a plea offer to be made. Prosecutors notified Harris that if Whitener failed to appear to plead guilty during the current term of court that Whitener would be tried in his absence.
Whitener failed to appear in court on Monday and prosecutors extended the deadline to Wednesday. When Whitener failed to appear on Wednesday, prosecutors proceeded to have the trial in Whitener’s absence.
Deputy Solicitor Dale Scott and Assistant Solicitor Taylor Daniel handled the case for the state.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his prosecutors. He also praised the work of Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster’s Investigators, particularly Lt. Michael Claytor and Inv. Michael Stribble, in securing Whitener’s conviction.
“I am proud of the cooperation between my staff and law enforcement that led to Calvin Whitener’s conviction,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “This man came to our community from somewhere else to push his poison, and I encourage anyone with any information on Whitener’s whereabouts to immediately notify law enforcement.”
Terrance Lee Bland
Greenwood, S.C.; November 10, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday that a Greenwood man was sentenced Thursday afternoon to 15 years in prison for a pair of incidents in which he assaulted a man and fired shots into the man’s residence, all in the presence of the victim’s 2-year-old daughter. Continue reading
Jen Thompson, executive director of Lighthouse for Life, conducts training for 8th Circuit Juvenile Arbitrators last Thursday evening at the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Greenwood, S.C.; November 2, 2017 – It’s a problem few want to talk about and even fewer fully acknowledge. It is a growing problem not just overseas, but right here in our own backyards. While there are no firm statistics at this time, it is clear that human trafficking is a growing problem based on recent investigations that have uncovered predators sexually exploiting young men and women for profit. Continue reading
Robert Clayton Moore
Laurens, S.C.; October 26, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Thursday that a North Carolina man was found guilty Thursday morning on charges connected to an incident in which the man was driving the wrong direction on Interstate 385 in Laurens County. Continue reading
Greer Hanie Ashley Jr.
Abbeville, S.C.; October 24, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday morning that an Abbeville County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine. Continue reading
Laurens Drug Court / Vet Court participants will drug test at the Laurens Solicitor’s office.
Greenwood female Drug Court / Vet Court participants will drug test at the Greenwood Solicitor’s office.
Greenwood male Drug Court / Vet Court participants will drug test at the Greenwood Drug Court / Vet Court Director’s office.
Jeraka Jerome Choice
Laurens, S.C.; October 16, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Monday that a Clinton man with a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 1998 was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge at the Laurens County Courthouse.
Jeraka Jerome Choice, 37, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, second offense, in connection with a 2016 incident. Choice’s case was first on the trial docket and was set to be called for trial had he not entered the guilty plea Monday morning.
During the sentencing, Choice’s attorney told Circuit Judge Frank Addy that Choice did not use crack and asked the court to “consider this is just a drug case” and that Choice “realizes that the true victims are himself (Choice) and his family.”
“I understand that you may be trying to support your family,” Addy admonished from the bench. “But you cannot support your children by poisoning other people’s children.”
Choice was caught with just under 6 grams of crack cocaine in July 2016 following a short foot chase with police. Choice’s criminal record dates back to 1998 and includes more than 20 convictions for crimes ranging from minor property crimes to five convictions for domestic violence to drug charges.
After considering Choice’s lengthy criminal record, Addy handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison. The offense is considered “serious” under state law and, because it is a second or subsequent drug offense, Choice must serve a minimum of 85 percent, or 12 years nine months, before being considered before parole.
Assistant Solicitor Jim Todd handled the case for the state with assistance from Eighth Circuit Inv. Josh Pittman.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with Lt. Tyrone Goggins and Sgt. Stephen Lawton of the Clinton Department of Public Safety in securing the conviction.
“The idea that selling drugs only harms the drug dealer and his family is simply not true,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “There is a mountain of evidence that points to a direct link between drugs and violence. The citizens of Clinton can rest a little easier tonight knowing this menace to society will be spending a long time in prison.”