Robert Allen Gaffney, a 38-year-old man from Lexington County, has been convicted of Attempted Murder following a plea entered March 13. The Honorable Walton J. McLeod IV sentenced Gaffney to 25 years in prison. Under South Carolina law, the Attempted Murder charge is classified as a violent crime and isContinue Reading
Kenneth Archie, 44, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Evidence presented to the court showed on June 14, 2021, the Richland CountyContinue Reading
Dwight Anthony Powell, 42, of Saluda, has been convicted in Lexington County General Sessions Court after a trial. Powell was found guilty by a Lexington County jury of Burglary – Second Degree (violent) and Attempted Grand Larceny, with a value exceeding $10,000. Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod IV sentencedContinue Reading
In a recent court decision, 22-year-old Daniel Taylor Jones of Lexington County has been convicted and sentenced to forty (40) years without parole for the murder of Barry Joe Chavis, Jr., on March 27, 2020, at 3630 Fish Hatchery Road in the Gaston area of Lexington County. The verdict wasContinue Reading
Kaleb Thomas Besancon, aged 19, of Lexington, recently pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024, to serious charges in Lexington County. This includes one count of Armed Robbery and one count of Burglary Second Degree Violent stemming from separate incidents. Circuit Court Judge William P. Keesley oversaw the guilty plea andContinue Reading
Brandan Lamont Richardson, a 35-year-old validated gang member, faced the verdict of a Lexington County jury on Thursday, January 11, 2024. The jury convicted Richardson on charges of Trafficking Methamphetamine over 100 grams, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine. Presiding over theContinue Reading
Lavon Bernard Julius, age 43, originally from Columbia, was convicted Wednesday afternoon by a Lexington County jury, after approximately thirty minutes of deliberations, for the Murder of Zeloni Ellison, age 15. The trial began on Monday, December 11, 2023, with jury selection. The Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV, presided overContinue Reading
Lexington County, the Solicitor’s Office ran two criminal courts with two visiting Circuit Court Judges. While one courtroom handled nearly 100 matters, the other courtroom conducted two separate, unrelated trials. Please find below details regarding both of these trials. Victoria Ann Gregorio, age 59, was convicted on Tuesday, October 24,Continue Reading
Aaron Sincere Hood, age 20, was convicted last week Thursday, September 14, 2023, by a Saluda County jury for the Murder of Xavier Cancer, age 29. Chief Administrative Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, presided over the trial and sentenced Hood to thirty-four (34) years in the South Carolina Department ofContinue Reading
All three defendants charged in the 2021 Murder and Kidnapping of Sanaa Amenhotep, age 15, have now been convicted and sentenced. The Honorable Debra R. McCaslin handed down lengthy sentences following a sentencing hearing held yesterday in Lexington County General Sessions Court. “I am sending a message,” stated Judge McCaslin,Continue Reading
Morgan Dayle Carr, age 31, was convicted last week Friday, April 28, 2023, by a Lexington County jury for her role in the 2018 Murder and Armed Robbery of Robert William All, Jr., age 22. Chief Administrative Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, presided over the week-long trial and sentenced CarrContinue Reading