The trial for Randall “Randy” Simpson was set to begin today, but instead, the defendant pled guilty in Anderson General Sessions Court to charges of Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Attempted Armed Robbery. The Honorable R. Scott Sprouse sentenced Simpson to a total of 50 years active jail time. Simpson received 30 years for Murder, and 20 years for Voluntary Manslaughter, which are to be served concurrently, and 15 years for Attempted Armed Robbery and 5 years for Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, which will be served consecutively. Special Prosecutor Lucas Marchant, with the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office represented the State.
On January 9, 2016, around 12:30 AM at Pierce Road and Amy Road in Iva, Justin Ray Williams was the victim of an Attempted Robbery perpetrated by Casey Waddell, Tabitha Roberts, Brandon Davis, Wesley Malmister and Randy Simpson. Roberts, Waddell, Simpson and Malmister had discussed robbing Mr. Williams of drugs they believed were in his possession. Waddell directed Roberts to call the victim and set up a purchase of methamphetamine at the victim’s residence where they then proceeded, all armed with various firearms. Along the way, they picked up Brandon Davis. Davis also armed himself with a firearm. When they reached Williams’ residence, Roberts got out of the vehicle and went inside the trailer to ensure that he was alone. Waddell, Malmister, Davis and Simpson all exited the vehicle and proceeded to the victim’s home. While armed with an assault rifle, Waddell jerked the door open, moved past Roberts and demanded that Williams “give it up”. Williams was armed with a handgun and fired one shot striking Waddell in the head resulting in his death. Randall Simpson then approached and entered the residence and shot Williams 5 times, with some of the shots penetrating his heart and lungs. He died as a result of those injuries. Roberts, Malmister and Simpson all fled the scene. Davis ran into the woods and was picked up at a later time. Following the investigation of this incident by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Roberts, Davis and Malmister gave full confessions to the investigating officer and the Solicitor’s Office.
Roberts, Davis and Malmister all entered guilty pleas on April 25, 2017, to two counts of voluntary manslaughter and one count of Attempted Armed Robbery, and will be sentenced at a later date.
Following the plea, Solicitor David Wagner said, “Two lives were senselessly lost because of drug addiction and greed. This sentence sends the right message to would-be violent criminals in Anderson County: You will be found, aggressively prosecuted and may spend the rest of your life in prison.”