GREENWOOD, S.C.; April 21, 2026 — A Laurens County man will spend the next four decades in prison after pleading guilty Monday to charges stemming from a brutal incident at the Laurens County Courthouse, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.
Stephen Andrew White pleaded guilty Monday to charges of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, the same day a trial on the same charges was scheduled to begin. Circuit Judge Frank R. Addy Jr. sentenced White to a total of 40 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, including 35 years on the murder chargeand a consecutive 5-year sentence on the weapon charge.
The charges stem from an August 2024 incident following a child custody hearing at the Laurens County Courthouse, in which both White and the victim were present. After parting from his attorney in the parking lot of the courthouse, White entered his vehicle and intentionally struck the victim who was standing beside his own vehicle some distance away causing severe injuries, including a broken leg and pelvis. White then exited the vehicle with a firearm, stood over the victim who was disabled on the pavement. After the first round misfired and jammed, White chambered another round and shot the victim in the head.
After shooting the victim, White discarded the weapon and surrendered to law enforcement who were quickly responding to the scene.
The case was prosecuted and presented to the Court by Solicitor Stumbo, Deputy Solicitor Jared Simmons and Assistant Solicitor Mary-Madison Driggers. White was represented by 8th Circuit Public Defender Chelsea McNeill.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff, along with Investigator Christopher Oggenfuss of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“This was a calculated and deeply personal act of violence that unfolded in a place where families are supposed to find peaceful resolution to disputes—not further heartache and tragedy,” said Solicitor Stumbo. “Stephen White chose to maliciously take a life in the place that many of us come to work to serve the public every day and in the process took two father figures—the victim and himself—out of the life of an innocent child permanently.
“My office remains committed to ensuring justice in cases like this and to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our law enforcement partners to protect this community.”