10th Circuit Solicitor

May 24, 2012

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. Branden Newton pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Unlawful Conduct toward a Child. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Newton to 10 years suspended to 6 months home incarceration and 5 years probation. Newton will be placed on the Child Abuse Central Registry.

On April 21, 2010, EMS responded to 119 Jacob Road in Anderson to a call regarding an injured 5-month old baby. Branden Newton told responders that the child had fallen off the couch onto a carpeted floor. The defendant refused EMS transport to the hospital, but later admitted the child to AnMed Hospital. X-rays revealed 2 separate skull fractures as well as partially healed fractures from two prior incidents.  Once confronted by investigators that skull fractures do not occur from a fall from a couch, Newton changed his story and claimed that the infant fell from a counter in the kitchen onto a linoleum floor.  A child abuse expert who examined the child stated that the skull fractures this infant received would also not result from a fall from a kitchen counter. 

SLED was called in to investigate the case since Newton was employed as a 911 dispatcher for Anderson County.  The infant was examined by a child abuse expert in Columbia who stated that the injuries the child had sustained were consistent with abuse and that these injuries would not have resulted from either a fall from a couch or from a fall from a kitchen counter.

“The abuse Mr. Newton inflicted upon this helpless infant, coupled with his repeated attempts to cover up the truth in order to avoid responsibility when confronted by law enforcement, are reprehensible,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “We are very disappointed in today’s sentence.  The defendant’s actions called for an active prison sentence as the State requested.”

May 24, 2012

Contact: [email protected]

. Branden Newton pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Unlawful Conduct toward a Child. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Newton to 10 years suspended to 6 months home incarceration and 5 years probation. Newton will be placed on the Child Abuse Central Registry.

On April 21, 2010, EMS responded to 119 Jacob Road in Anderson to a call regarding an injured 5-month old baby. Branden Newton told responders that the child had fallen off the couch onto a carpeted floor. The defendant refused EMS transport to the hospital, but later admitted the child to AnMed Hospital. X-rays revealed 2 separate skull fractures as well as partially healed fractures from two prior incidents.  Once confronted by investigators that skull fractures do not occur from a fall from a couch, Newton changed his story and claimed that the infant fell from a counter in the kitchen onto a linoleum floor.  A child abuse expert who examined the child stated that the skull fractures this infant received would also not result from a fall from a kitchen counter. 

SLED was called in to investigate the case since Newton was employed as a 911 dispatcher for Anderson County.  The infant was examined by a child abuse expert in Columbia who stated that the injuries the child had sustained were consistent with abuse and that these injuries would not have resulted from either a fall from a couch or from a fall from a kitchen counter.

“The abuse Mr. Newton inflicted upon this helpless infant, coupled with his repeated attempts to cover up the truth in order to avoid responsibility when confronted by law enforcement, are reprehensible,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “We are very disappointed in today’s sentence.  The defendant’s actions called for an active prison sentence as the State requested.”

 May 22, 2012 

Twenty-two year old Daryl Newton pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Robbery from two separate incidents in 2010. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Newton to 25 years in prison.  

On August 24, 2010, Daryl Newton, and a co-defendant approached 2 victims in the Bi-Lo parking lot on Hwy 153 in Anderson County, pointed a gun at them and demanded their money and cell phones.   

On September 1, 2010, Newton shot and killed Josh Maness in Anderson during a confrontation at Maness’ home. The two had met earlier in the day when the victim wanted to buy some marijuana from the defendant. The defendant went to the victim’s house later to rob him.  Newton was arrested on September 2^nd and charge with killing Maness and also the Armed Robbery which took place on August 24^th.  

The armed robbery victims were able to pick Newton out of a photo line-up.  The Defendant gave a full confession to both crimes.

May 9, 2012

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. Nineteen-year old Landon Sanders pleaded guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to 2 counts of Murder and 2 counts of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Sanders to 30 years on all charges. 

On March 22, 2011, Landon Sanders met his father and step-mother, Jason and Candace Sanders, at Sanders Ferry Boat Ramp on Hwy 184 in Iva. Sanders fired shots into the vehicle occupied by the couple, killing them both. The gun was recovered less than a mile from the boat ramp.

Deputies with the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia who were familiar with the Sanders family assisted Anderson County deputies in locating the defendant and making the arrest the night of the shootings. The defendant was extradited to Anderson a few days later. 

“Sanders committed a brutal, senseless act when he murdered two members of his own family,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “This is yet another example of drug related acts of violence that are far too common in our society.”

April 23, 2012

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. Michael Douglas Lewis pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature and Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child. The Honorable Benjamin H. Culbertson sentenced Lewis to 15 years on the Assault charge and 10 years on the Unlawful Conduct charge.

On August 4, 2011, officers from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Oconee Medical Center regarding a potential child abuse case. The 5-week old victim was found to have a fractured leg, 3 broken ribs and a head injury. Although initially denying responsibility for the infant’s injuries, Michael Douglas Lewis later admitted that he had gotten frustrated by the child’s crying and had hit him open-handed in the face.  The Defendant also admitted throwing the child onto a wicker couch.  Lewis had a previous conviction for assaulting a child in Richland County.

“The defendant violently attacked and injured a helpless infant,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “While it is fortunate that the child’s injuries ultimately weren’t life threating, this defendant has a proven history of violence against children and as such we are pleased with today’s sentence which will ensure that he spends over a decade behind bars, unable to harm anyone else.”

April 25, 2012

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. An Oconee County jury found Marcus Daniel Allison guilty today of Burglary 1^st Degree and Grand Larceny. The Honorable Benjamin H. Culbertson sentenced Allison to 25 years for the Burglary and 5 years for the Grand Larceny. Sentences are to run concurrently.

On May 2, 2010, Bruce Kelley, Jr. reported to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department that a burglary had taken place at his home while he was at work. Televisions, a laptop, DVDs, handguns and ammunition were stolen. Based on information obtained through the investigation, a search warrant was issued to search the home of Marcus Allison. Some of the stolen items were recovered at that time.

“We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and want to thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Twenty-five years is a very appropriate sentence for a violent crime such as this.”

April 17, 2012

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. Kristopher Lamar Jenkins pled guilty to Armed Robbery today in Anderson General Sessions Court. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Jenkins to 10 years.

On April 28, 2010, Jenkins walked into Cindy’s Treasure Cove in Pendleton and displayed an object that was perceived by the victim to be a knife.  He acted like he was buying some items and when the owner opened the cash drawer he pulled the knife and demanded the money bag. The defendant left the scene on foot and was later apprehended.  Jenkins provided a written confession. Most of the money was recovered.