10th Circuit Solicitor

November 4, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Steven Randall Cobb pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Voluntary Manslaughter. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced him to 23 years in prison. 

On July 11, 2011, the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle belonging to Raymond Diehl. A second passenger in the car stated that the defendant and Diehl began arguing when Cobb pulled out a pistol and shot Diehl 7 times. The victim crashed the car into a fence. Mr. Diehl stumbled onto the roadway where he was found a couple of hours later by a paper route driver. The victim died on the way to the hospital. Both the defendant and the second passenger escaped the scene through the windows of the wrecked car. Cobb made threats against the family of the second passenger if he said anything about the incident. Once they made it to the defendant’s mother’s home, the defendant got into the shower and the eyewitness called for friends to come pick him up. The witness then contacted law enforcement and gave them a statement about what had transpired. All of the forensic evidence supported the statement of the witness that Cobb had in fact killed Diehl. 

“Steven Randall Cobb has been in trouble with the law for many years,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “His criminal history is extensive and has become increasingly more violent. Today’s sentence will keep him off the streets of Anderson County for a very long time.”

October 2, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Stanley “Shawn” Davis pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to the murder of his mother in January of this year. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Davis to 30 years in prison. 

On January 1, 2013, deputies were dispatched to the residence of Debra and Stanley Davis in the Wren community following a call from a neighbor. Mrs. Davis had gone to the neighbor’s house and told him that her son had set her on fire. EMS transported Mrs. Davis to Greenville Memorial Hospital where she was later transferred to the Augusta Burn Center. She died approximately 6 weeks later while still at the Burn Center. The defendant was shot by his brother later in the day of the attack on Mrs. Davis. Shawn Davis was charged with attempted murder after his release from the hospital. The charge was upgraded to Murder following Mrs. Davis’ death in February.  

Stanley Davis, 62, father of the defendant, died in May of natural causes. 

“We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Debra and Stanley Davis,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Even while suffering the pain of her severe burns, Mrs. Davis prayed for her son. Hers was a truly extraordinary love for her child, even in the face of such an evil act. For the next 30 years, Shawn Davis will be locked behind bars and have to live with the knowledge that he took the life of someone who loved him so much that she forgave him even as she suffered.”

September 3, 2013

Walhalla, SC.) Former Secret Service agent and candidate for Oconee County Sheriff, James Richard “Rick” Bartee was convicted by an Oconee County jury for Solicitation to Commit a Felony (the kidnapping of former Circuit Court Judge James C. Williams). The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Bartee to 10 years suspended to 5 years in prison and 5 years probation.  While on probation he is to complete 250 hours of community service and also undergo a psychiatric evaluation. 

In May of 2011, approximately 1 year before the Republican primary, James Bartee stated that he was approached about the possibility of running for Sheriff of Oconee County. At that time questions arose regarding his eligibility to become the Sheriff due to his lack of having served for a year as an officer certified by the State of South Carolina.  Bartee contacted Brandy Duncan, general counsel for the Criminal Justice Academy via email on May 25, 2011, at which time she advised that he would not qualify but should he become employed with a local State agency for a year, this requirement would be met and that there was sufficient time to meet that qualification requirement if done immediately. In spite of this advice, Bartee continued to mount a campaign for Sheriff.

Former Circuit Court Judge James C. Williams, acting as a concerned citizen and resident of Oconee County questioned Mr. Bartee via email regarding his eligibility to serve as Sheriff due to his lack of qualifications per SC law .Bartee continued to assert that he was qualified and claimed in a recorded press interview in March of 2012 that he had been told he was qualified by Senator Alexander’s office and Brandy Duncan with the Criminal Justice Academy.  However, testimony in court revealed that this was not the case. Judge Williams, who testified that he did not want the taxpayers of Oconee to have to go through a second election when Mr. Bartee was found to be unqualified to serve, sent Bartee several emails in April of 2012 questioning his qualifications, and on May 22, 2012 filed a civil suit to remove Bartee from the ballot.

Bartee embellished his record with the Secret Service during his entire campaign claiming on his website and on campaign literature that he had an unblemished record and that he served 25 years as a Senior Special agent.  Personnel records from the Secret Service showed that he had been disciplined while serving as an agent and that he had been suspended for 3 days for an altercation with an employee of a gas station where racial remarks were alleged.  Personnel records also showed, and Bartee admitted on the stand, that he had less than 10 years as a Senior Special Agent with the Secret Service.  

The race for Oconee County Sheriff became quite heated.  Bartee developed a following which included Nick Blackwell. Blackwell volunteered to put up signs and do whatever Bartee needed. Phone records show that Bartee was in frequent contact with Blackwell during the time that candidate Donnie Fricks and Blackwell had an altercation at Mayfest in Walhalla on May 12, 2012.  Blackwell testified that Bartee had instructed him to hand out flyers with information about Fricks’s history and also to ask certain questions at forums. The questions were designed to elicit information which would be damaging to the other candidates. Blackwell did as he was told.

On May 24, 2012 the first hearing was held in Walhalla in front of the Honorable Cordell Maddox in the civil suit.  The transcript from that hearing indicates that Judge Maddox was leaning toward ruling Bartee unqualified to run for Sheriff.  The second hearing was scheduled for May 30, 2012 where Judge Maddox intended to make a final ruling on removing Bartee from the ballot.   At this point, Bartee had $76,000 of his own money invested into his campaign.

“First, I want to thank the jury for their service in this case and for reaching the only conclusion possible based on the evidence,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Elections are contentious but the threat of violence to gain political office has no place in our democratic society.  Today’s guilty verdict and sentencing will allow our community to finally put a close to the divisions and animosity that resulted from Mr. Bartee’s actions. It is disappointing that Mr. Bartee, who sought to serve as Sheriff, intentionally broke the law to further his own campaign.  Fortunately Judge Williams was not harmed and today, ultimately justice was served.”          

August 15, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Fifty-eight year old Robert H. Alverson, Jr. pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The Honorable Edward Miller sentenced Alverson to 3 years suspended on 1 year HIP (home incarceration program) with 4 years probation & no contact with either victim.

The State agreed to recommend that the defendant plead guilty to 2 counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (1 count for each of the victims) after reviewing all the available evidence after 14 – 29 years have passed since the incidents took place.

The defendant met both victims through The ACT Theatre, one between 1984 and 1985 and the other between 1997 and 1999.  The victims disclosed that the defendant forced them to engage in oral and anal intercourse at various locations in Anderson County.  Law enforcement’s investigation of each case was unable to produce any physical evidence after all these years and no witnesses have come forward to testify that they observed the abuse.    

“The evidence we have in this case makes proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial highly unlikely,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Unfortunately, after all of these years no physical evidence exists that can be presented at trial.  The evidence also shows that, as adults, each of the victims chose to share an apartment with the defendant in New York for some period of time.  Our office must rely on the facts that would be admissible in court and based on those facts and the history of consensual relationships as adults with both victims, we are confident that our decision in regards to this guilty plea is the best and only resolution to this case.”

July 23, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Thirty-eight year old Renita Lee pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Child Abuse. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced her to 7 years in prison. Lee will also be placed on the Child Abuse Registry.  

On April 17, 2012, deputies responded to AnMed in reference to a two-year old being treated for suspicious injuries. The child was in the care of her step-grandmother, Renita Lee at the time of her injuries. The two-year old had a knot on her forehead and bruising around her right eye. She later underwent surgery in Greenville to relieve the swelling on her brain. 

“Renita Lee’s brutal actions against an innocent child caused substantial injury and are deserving of this significant prison sentence,” said Solicitor Adams.  “Our prayers are with the victim and her family as she continues to recover from the injuries she sustained.”

July 22, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Anthony Roy Clark pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to two counts of Assault & Battery 1^st Degree and 1 count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Clark to 10 years on each Assault & Battery, 1^st degree charge to be served consecutively and to 3 years suspended to 5 years’ probation on the Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor charge. Clark will also be required to register as a sex offender.

In May of 2012, law enforcement received a report of alleged criminal sexual conduct by the defendant which took place in 2010. The incidents occurred while the victim, who was 10 years old at the time, was visiting a relative who was in a relationship with the defendant. The defendant made admissions to law enforcement regarding the incidents. 

“Anthony Clark’s actions are among the most despicable an adult can do to a child,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “With a twenty year prison sentence and a lifetime of being registered as a sex offender in front of him, it is our hope that the defendant will never again have the opportunity to be a menace to the children in our community.”

July 15, 2013

(ANDERSON, SC). Frankie Hugh Brooks, Jr. pled guilty in Anderson County General Sessions Court to multiple charges. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced the defendant to the maximum on each of the following: 20 years for Carjacking; 5 years each on two counts of Grand Larceny, 5 years each on two counts of Possession of Stolen Goods, and 3 years on Failure to Stop for Blue Light. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 

On the night of October 7, 2012, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Frankie Hugh Brooks, Jr. approached the victim at the Spinx station in Powdersville. After striking up a conversation with the victim, Brooks pulled out a 38 caliber revolver, taking the victim’s vehicle and cellphone. The vehicle was reported stolen immediately. Law enforcement later observed the car and activated the blue lights. The defendant sped away at speeds of over 100 mph. The chase came to a stop when the defendant wrecked the vehicle. The defendant was later apprehended with the assistance of tracking dogs.  

The Possession of Stolen Goods and Grand Larceny charges were all in relation to crimes committed during the period of October and November of 2011 in the Powdersville area.  

“The maximum sentence was well deserved in light of the circumstances of this crime,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Fortunately, the victim escaped unharmed and law enforcement quickly apprehended the defendant before anyone else in the community was put in danger.  With a twenty year prison sentence before him, the defendant will no longer be a threat to the citizens of Anderson.”

June 26, 2013

(Walhalla, SC). An Oconee County jury found Gregory Lee Murphy guilty today of Distribution of Methamphetamines, 2^nd offense. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Murphy to 25 years suspended on the service of 90 months followed by 5 years probation.

On August 8, 2012, Murphy sold methamphetamine to an undercover informant operating at the direction of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. The sale took place at a home on Durham Brown Road in the Friendship community of Oconee County. The entire transaction was captured on digital video with audio and was shown to the jury as evidence at trial. Murphy had previously been convicted of possession of methamphetamines in 2004.

“Meth is a highly addictive and destructive drug,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Combating the distribution of meth in our community is an important priority and today’s guilty verdict will help in that effort by putting a repeated drug offender in prison.  This verdict means there is now one less source in Oconee for criminals to buy meth.”

June 24, 2013

(Anderson, SC). Travon Mack-Haymond pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions court to Voluntary Manslaughter in the death of Yusef Jenkins in 2011. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison.

On March 25, 2011 Travon Mack-Haymond was visiting Pamela Brownlee’s residence at her invitation. Yusef Jenkins came to the residence of Ms. Brownlee, the mother of one of his children. Witnesses stated that Jenkins and Mack-Haymond argued and Jenkins punched the defendant in the face. Mack-Haymond then pulled a 9 mm handgun and shot Jenkins 5 times resulting in Mr. Jenkins’ death.

“The death of Yusef Jenkins was a tragedy that greatly impacted the lives of his family members. They expressed this to me when we met with them and to the Judge today during sentencing,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “The decision to allow Travon Mack-Haymond to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a 15 year prison sentence came only after a thorough review of all the facts of the case, the evidence, witness statements and the autopsy results. We feel that the facts and circumstances support the state’s negotiation results. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Yusef Jenkins.”