10th Circuit Solicitor

(Walhalla, SC).  On April 18, 2023 William David Gunn broke into the residence of the late Peggy Shaw with the intent to steal items that remained inside.  Senior Assistant Solicitor Beth Blundy showed the jury the numerous tools he used to break inside including a crowbar and screwdriver.  Thanks to the swift response of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office F. Sgt Alexander and deputy Josh Entsminger decided to make entry into the home with the assistance of K9 Coss and Officer Shedd of the Walhalla PD.  The Defendant was found alone in the residence.  He was convicted of Burglary 2nd Degree Violent, Possession of Tools in the Commission of a Crime, Resisting Arrest, and Malicious Injury Real Property and sentenced to 17 years.

December 9, 2021

(Anderson, SC) Yesterday in Anderson County General Sessions Court defendant Bradley Aldrich entered a Guilty but Mentally Ill plea to 2 counts of Murder, 1 count of Attempted Murder, and 2 counts of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.  The Honorable Judge Lawton McIntosh sentenced Aldrich to 40 years.  

Just after 1 am on May 6, 2018, Aldrich shot at Shane Massey several times hitting him in the chest with a .22 caliber handgun.  The two were acquainted through mutual drug use, and Massey is a convicted drug dealer.  According to witnesses, Aldrich was using drugs at the time of the incident and spoke of two devils living inside him.  Aldrich fled the scene of the shooting and Massey was treated for his injuries.

Several hours later, Aldrich’s mother and grandmother were found deceased at a home they shared at 110 Overbrook Street.  Aldrich had been living in a tent behind this residence.  Aldrich’s cousin found both bodies in a bedroom. Theresa Wright, age 50, the Defendant’s mother, was lying on the floor.  She had been beaten, stabbed, strangled, and shot.  His grandmother, Judith Calvert, 79, was lying in bed. She had been stabbed and shot.  Both victims had methamphetamine in their systems at the time of their death, according to toxicology reports.  

The Defendant was initially arrested for the attempted murder of Shane Massey, and then questioned about the murders of his mother and grandmother. He at first blamed Massey for the murders and claimed this is why he had shot Massey.  He claimed that he had been “looking for Lucifer” after shooting methamphetamine and cocaine all day, and he had only found his mother and grandmother dead.  He went on to say that if the police were to find his DNA though then he was the one who did it.  The DNA of the Defendant was located in fingernail scrapings from both victims, which is typically indicative of a struggle. The jeans the Defendant was wearing when he was arrested also had the blood of both victims on them.  

Solicitor David Wagner said this, following the sentencing:  “Drug use is the genesis of so many crimes of violence in the Upstate and in our Country.  I hope that drug users in Anderson County will see the lessons in this tragic matter and change their behavior before it is too late for them, and they too wind up hurting or killing someone they love.  This is a pattern we are seeing all too often.  I am grateful for the hard work done by Sgt. Jeff Finley with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and by my Deputy Solicitor Catherine Huey, who secured these convictions and sentence.” 

Solicitor David Wagner said this, following the sentencing:  “Drug use is the genesis of so many crimes of violence in the Upstate and in our Country.  I hope that drug users in Anderson County will see the lessons in this tragic matter and change their behavior before it is too late for them, and they too wind up hurting or killing someone they love.  This is a pattern we are seeing all too often.  I am grateful for the hard work done by Sgt. Jeff Finley with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and by my Deputy Solicitor Catherine Huey, who secured these convictions and sentence.”