LAURENS, S.C.; January 9, 2026 – A Laurens man is headed to prison for 15 years after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a four-month crime spree and escape attempt, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday.
Travilous Kyndrell Austin, 18, on Thursday pleaded guilty to two counts each of second-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and one count each of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, discharging a firearm into a vehicle, and escape.
Circuit Judge William C. McMaster III accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Austin to a combined 13 years in prison for all the charges except the escape charge and two years in prison on the escape charge, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
In October 2024, Austin shot into a vehicle during a dispute. Five months later, Austin went on a spree of burglaries in the cities of Clinton and Laurens. Austin was armed during each of the burglaries. During one of the burglaries, Austin put a gun to the victim’s head, telling her to give him “everything or it’s over.” Austin was wearing a court-mandated ankle monitor when he committed each of the crimes.
In August 2025, while awaiting trial for his crimes, Austin escaped from the Johnson Detention Center in Laurens County. He was quickly apprehended at the Hot Spot gas station located at the intersection of Highway 76 and Templeton Road.
Assistant Solicitor Elizabeth Able Finch handled the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Tyrone Goggins and 8th Circuit Victim Advocate Stephanie Pitts. Austin was represented by Nekedia Heath of the Greenville County bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff, along with Clinton and Laurens police departments, in securing the conviction and prison sentence.
“Our communities deserve to feel safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their businesses,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “By securing this conviction and lengthy prison sentence, we have taken a violent individual off the streets and reinforced our commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners in law enforcement to keep our communities safe from violent offenders like Travilous Austin.”