10th Circuit Solicitor

 Daryl Gray pled guilty yesterday in Anderson General Sessions Court to Voluntary Manslaughter. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Gray to 25 years.

On June 27, 2010, Daryl Gray and his girlfriend went to the home of Lahani Bozeman to return a cell phone they had borrowed.  Gray got out of the car and knocked on the door. As Gray returned to the car, Bozeman came out of the house and they began to argue.  Gray shot Bozeman four times which resulted in his death.  Bozeman’s mother was standing on the porch at the time of the shooting. 

April 3, 2012

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(Anderson, SC)  Andy Steve Roach pled guilty Monday in Anderson General Sessions Court to Murder in relation to the death of Steven Ross Hughes in July of 2010. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Roach to 20 years in prison.

On July 2, 2010 Anderson Police Department officers responded to an abandoned building at 203 W. Earle Street as a result of a 911 call placed by Andy Roach. When they arrived, they found the victim, Steven Ross Hughes, lying on his side profusely bleeding from his head area. Hughes stopped breathing while EMS was en route. A beer bottle and baseball bat, both covered with blood, were located near his body. 

Roach gave a statement admitting to beating the victim with the baseball bat stating that he feared for his life as the victim had been threatening to kill him all day. The two met each other at the library and had been living in the abandoned building on W. Earle Street.  

An autopsy showed that the victim died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma injuries with resulting cerebral injuries.  Acute ethanolism was also noted. 

“While Mr. Roach was cooperative with authorities throughout this investigation, even calling 911 himself and admitting to police that he beat the victim, the fact remains that in July of 2010 he killed Steven Ross Hughes,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Today’s sentence will ensure he spends the next two decades in prison for this violent and brutal crime.”

March 16, 2012
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(Anderson, SC). An Anderson County jury has found William Laureano guilty today of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. The Honorable Lawton Macintosh sentenced the defendant to 8 years suspended to 4 years and 5 years probation. Laureano also received a 90 day sentence for contempt charges which is to be served consecutively to the 4 years. 

While arguing with his wife at their home in Anderson County on February 2, 2010, William Laureano pointed a loaded .357 pistol at his wife and threatened to kill her, their daughter, and any law enforcement that came to the home. The victim was able to flee the home with her daughter and grandchildren. The SWAT team was later called to negotiate with the defendant to surrender. Laureano was taken into custody without injury to himself or law enforcement.

Earlier this week, Henry Junior Galloway was found guilty of Burglary 2nd Degree and Safecracking and sentenced to 15 years. Galloway and a co-defendant broke into Moon’s Tile, Marble, and Stone on Whitehall Road in Anderson on September 24, 2010. Two employees were inside the business at the time of the break-in and were able to apprehend the defendants until law enforcement arrived. The entire incident was recorded on surveillance video. 

January 27, 2012
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(Anderson, SC). After four days of testimony, an Anderson County jury has found Matthew Fullbright guilty of two counts of Murder and two counts of Armed Robbery. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Fullbright to two consecutive life terms as well as two consecutive 30 year terms for the Armed Robbery charges.

On October 24, 2009, Homer and JoAnn Staton’s abandoned bloody car was found on Horton Road in Belton. Mr. Staton’s body was found the next day on Asaville School Road… Witness statements and cellphone records led Anderson County investigators to Matthew Fullbright. During Fullbright’s October 28, 2009 confession, Fullbright led investigators to Waterside Drive in Iva where he had dumped JoAnn Staton’s body.

The Staton’s bought and sold gold for a living and were known to carry a substantial amount of cash. Fullbright had lured the Staton’s to a secluded area in Iva, beat them to death with a hammer and then robbed them of their cash and jewelry. After disposing of the bodies, Fullbright drove the Staton’s bloody car to the intersection of 252 and 413 where he purchased drugs. He then abandoned the car on Horton Road. 

“The horrific and brutal crimes committed by Matthew Fullbright shows how dangerous drug addiction can be,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Fullbright’s need to steal and support his drug habit ultimately led to the death of two innocent people. It is my hope that today’s verdict and sentencing will allow the Staton family to have some closure knowing that Fullbright will remain in prison for the rest of his life.”

OWENS AND GRESHAM RECEIVE LIFE SENTENCE

For complete statement, please see attached pdf

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF BURGLARY 1ST SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON

Michael Eugene Reese of Anderson, SC was found guilty today by an Anderson County jury of Burglary 1st Degree. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Gibson to 25 years in prison.

On October 9, 2010 at approximately 8:50pm Michael Reese broke into the home of Margaret and Douglas Nelson by breaking a rear window. Margaret Nelson is Reese’s mother. When the Nelson’s returned home from dinner, Reese confronted them both at the front door and pointed a shotgun at his step-father, Douglas Nelson, and threatened to kill him. During a struggle between Reese and Douglas Nelson, Nelson was able to take possession of the shotgun. Reese fled the scene and was arrested several days later.

Solicitor Adams says: “We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and the sentence handed down by Judge McIntosh. Reese will no longer be a threat to his own family or to our community. I hope that this sentence will allow the Nelson’s to find peace and no longer be in fear of their own son.”

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GIBSON SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

December 14, 2011

Don Ray Gibson of Anderson, SC was found guilty today by an Anderson County jury of Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Gibson to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

On April 26, 2009, the defendant was asked to leave Hog Tails Bar & Grill in Pendleton following a verbal altercation with Damon and Jason Marcengill. Gibson later returned to Hog Tails with his nephew to pick up items he had left at the scene. Once inside, Gibson confronted Damon Marcengill, cutting him across the throat and face with a knife. Marcengill was flown to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment. Witnesses were able to assist in the identification of Gibson who was arrested a short time later near his home in Anderson. 

“Gibson has a history of violent criminal behavior including a conviction for murder in 1976. His criminal history along with the brutal nature of this attack makes him a clear danger to our community. As a result, we sought and received a sentence of Life without the Possibility of Parole,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Gibson served 32 years on his previous conviction and had only been out of prison nine months before his latest crime. Today’s sentence will ensure he remains in prison for the rest of his life, unable to inflict further harm in our community.”

December 7, 2011
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(Anderson, SC). Toys of all sizes, from dolls and video games to bicycles, were presented to Anderson Interfaith Ministries by Tenth Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams and her staff today. AIM will distribute the toys, with an approximate value of $5,000, to children served through their annual Christmas program. Toy collections will continue until December 20th through Solicitor Adams’ office.

“These toys were collected by the diversion programs administered by my office for distribution to those less fortunate during the holiday season,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Donations from the non-violent offenders participating in the different diversion programs operated by my office are allowed to be made in lieu of a portion of community service. Giving back to the community in this way encourages these participants to recognize their involvement in making their community a better place.”

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November 10, 2011
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(Walhalla, SC). Thirty-five year old Eric Anderson pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to multiple sex offenses involving children under the age of 15. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Anderson to 30 years on each (2 counts) Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor (concurrent) charge and 5 years on Lewd Act on a Minor (consecutive). He must get inpatient treatment while incarcerated, outpatient treatment when released and have no contact with children under 18 and no internet access. He will also be on electronic monitoring for life. 

Between October of 2009 and December of 2010, Anderson engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with 2 young boys, aged 14 and 15. Both boys provided written statements to law enforcement. The defendant provided a written confession to law enforcement. Anderson, a registered sex offender, was previously convicted of lewd act on a child in 1997. 

“Mr. Anderson’s actions against his victims were reprehensible and he presents a clear threat to the children of our community,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Today’s guilty plea and the sentence handed down by Judge McIntosh will remove Mr. Anderson from our community and hopefully allow the victims to begin the recovery process knowing their abuser is behind bars.” 

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October 20, 2011
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(Walhalla, SC). Sixty-four year old John R. Roach was convicted today in Oconee County General Sessions Court of Lewd Act on a Minor and Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree with a Minor. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Roach to 15 years suspended to 24 months for the Lewd Act and 20 years suspended to 24 months in prison for the Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree with a Minor charge. Five years probation will follow the prison sentence. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender, placed on the Central Registry of Child Abuse, placed in the DNA database, and will be required to be on GPS monitoring for life following his incarceration. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family. 

On January 24, 2010, the defendant committed a sexual act on a 13-year old female who was residing at the same home as the defendant at the time. A member of the victim’s family later reported the incident to law enforcement. The case was investigated by the Walhalla Police Department who obtained a written confession from Roach.