March 13, 2025 Anderson S.C. — An Anderson man is headed to the South Carolina Department of Corrections after having entered a guilty plea on Wednesday afternoon at the Anderson County Courthouse relating to an Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, and Assault that occurred January 31, 2024, announced Solicitor Micah Black.
Donavan Williford, 29, pled guilty as charged to Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Assault and Battery of High and Aggravated Nature (ABHAN), and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. Circuit Judge R. Lawton McIntosh handed down a 20-year sentence to Mr. Williford. Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and ABHAN are all classified as violent crimes, and are considered “no-parole” offenses, meaning Williford must serve 85 percent of the sentence before being released. These convictions are also considered strikes under South Carolina’s “three-strikes” law, meaning Williford may be subject to a life sentence for further convictions.
On January 31, 2024, Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff Office responded to the QuikTrip Gas Station on Pearman Dairy Road in Anderson and found the victim lying on the ground bound with electrical tape around his legs and bleeding from his arm. Subsequent investigation determined that Williford, along with other co-defendants, orchestrated a plan to lure the victim to an address where he was later beaten and robbed. The co-defendants then transported the victim to the QuikTrip to attempt to use his debit card at an ATM. The victim was able to free himself and attempted to escape while they were stopped at the QuikTrip. He was able to eventually escape but not before being shot in the arm after struggling with Williford over the firearm while still inside the vehicle.
Solicitor Micah Black prosecuted the case for the State. He praised the work of Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for their swift action at the QuikTrip, as well as their investigation and apprehension of the suspects in the case. Lead investigator Jessica Jefferson, along with other officers, were able to secure the crime scene, follow up with leads, and ultimately secure the arrest that led to the conviction of the Defendant in this case.
“This was an utterly senseless crime motivated by greed,” said Solicitor Black. “The job law enforcement did to quickly arrive on scene and tend to the victim and secure the evidence necessary to convict this defendant cannot be undersold. Without their work investigating this violent act, we would not have secured a conviction and lengthy sentence against this perpetrator. Anderson County is safer today with this violent and dangerous criminal off the streets, and my prayer is that the victim can put this unfortunate incident behind him and begin to move forward in life.”