Anderson, SC – Today, the Honorable J. Cordell Maddox sentenced 67 year old Charles Pickens to 25 years provided upon 15 years active service and 5 years of probation on charges of Felony DUI with Death and Leaving the Scene of an Accident resulting in Death.
On February 15, 2015 Sandy Springs volunteer firefighter Kenneth Stanton was directing traffic at a collision on US 76 when Charles Pickens swerved from his lane of traffic, striking Stanton and killing him, before striking a fire truck and leaving the scene. After he was located, Pickens refused a breath test, and a search warrant was obtained for a sample of his blood. Eventual testing of that blood sample by SLED revealed Pickens had a Blood Alcohol Content that night of .254%, which is over three times South Carolina’s legal limit.
Members of the Sandy Springs Fire Department, as well as friends and family of Kenneth Stanton were present at the plea. Kenneth Stanton’s widow, Sheryl Stanton, spoke on behalf of the family and said Stanton “joined the Sandy Springs Fire Department and was so proud and happy to be able to help his community in any way that he could and took pride in it.” She also said “he had the funeral of a hero which was fitting because he was my hero.”
Solicitor Chrissy Adams commented following the sentence “Our community lost a great man when it lost Kenneth Stanton. Today’s sentence is justice for his grieving family and for our community, but the absence of this hero will continue to be felt by all.”