10th Circuit Solicitor

May 20, 2011
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

Anderson, SC. Lee Morrison, 33, was found guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court of Lewd Act on a Minor and Exposure of Private Parts. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Morrison to 15 years suspended to 8 years and 5 years probation.

Between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 the defendant lived in the same home as the victim. The child, who was between 3 and 5 at that time, disclosed that during the period when they lived in the same home, the defendant committed sexual acts on her. A physical exam revealed evidence validating the child’s claims. Another child in the home described having seen the defendant commit a sex act on the victim as well.

“Lee Morrison committed a horrible act on this child which no child should ever have to endure. The fact that he was a trusted adult in the child’s home makes his actions even more horrendous. Although we were disappointed that the defendant was not found guilty on all counts, we are grateful to the jury in this case for their diligent service and grateful that Morrison will remain behind bars for many years while this child begins her recovery from his depraved actions.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

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FREE WILLS CLINIC FOR ANDERSON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT

May 2, 2011
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

. The South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division and the office of 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams are sponsoring a free wills clinic to benefit law enforcement in Anderson County on Friday, May 6, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Solicitor’s Office in the Anderson County Courthouse (first floor). 

This free clinic is being offered to law enforcement officers to show appreciation for the service and protection they provide to our community. 

If you are a law enforcement officer in Anderson County and would like to have a free will provided to you, please contact Matthew Bradley at the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office by emailing matthew@soli10th.com to receive an “Intake Form.”

April 27, 2011
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(Anderson, SC). An Anderson County jury took less than half an hour to convict John Hunter Lambert, IV of the murder of his ex-wife, Amerise Brojet “B.J.” Barbre. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Lambert to 36 years in prison.

On December 21, 2008, the defendant and his ex-wife were at his parents’ home where the two began to argue following a period of drinking and using drugs. In a statement made to law enforcement, Lambert admitted to strangling Barbre and then burying her in a shallow grave in a wooded area close to the site of the murder. The defendant led police to the burial site 47 days after the murder following a lengthy interrogation.

April 14, 2011
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). At approximately 3:00AM, Sunday morning, January 23, 2011, 23 year-old Janie Smith was driving a Toyota SUV on Salem Church Road when she struck two teenage girls. The 16 year-old victim died instantly at the scene and the 17 year-old victim suffered a broken arm. Based on the accident reconstruction of the SCHP Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), the victims, who were wearing dark clothing, were walking in the middle of the northeast bound lane when they were struck. While there is evidence that Janie Smith was drinking at the time of the collision, the law mandates that an additional violation or neglect of an additional duty, such as the duty to exercise due care, occur, in order to prosecute Smith for Felony DUI. As a result of MAIT’s investigation, the State cannot prove such violation or neglect of duty occurred. As a result of MAIT’s investigation, the collision cannot legally be attributed to Smith’s alcohol consumption. In other words, this collision would have most likely occurred even if the driver had been sober. Therefore, as a result of MAIT’s investigation, the charge against Janie Smith is being reduced to DUI 1st. 

Both underage victims were drinking at the time that they were struck. “This Office will not tolerate those who knowingly give alcohol to minors in violation of the law. I have requested SLED investigate the source of the alcohol. This terrible tragedy could have been avoided. I hope this senseless loss of life serves as a reminder of the horrific consequences of drinking at any age, whether behind the wheel of a car or walking in the middle of the road. My heart goes out to the victims and their families,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. 

FEBRUARY 2011 EDITION SOLICITOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

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(Walhalla, SC). An Oconee County jury found 24 year-old Matthew Hinton guilty today of Homicide by Child Abuse. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced him to 41 years in prison. 
On August 16, 2009, Seneca police officers were called to Oconee Medical Center in response to suspected child abuse. EMS had transported 5 month old Brianna Bright to the hospital after reportedly being found unresponsive by her father, the defendant. She died 2 days later at Greenville Memorial Hospital as a result of severe head trauma. According to medical testimony, the injuries occurred during the time period when the defendant was the caregiver for the child while the mother was at work. 
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Brianna’s family,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “This innocent child relied on the defendant as her protector and care giver. Instead, his reprehensible actions resulted in her violent death. Our community has no place for people like Mr. Hinton and I am pleased that today’s guilty verdict will lead to a lengthy prison sentence for his crime. We would like to thank the jury for their service on this difficult case and Judge Macaulay for the decision to send Matthew Hinton to prison for the next 41 years.” 

MACKEY SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS
FOR MURDER

February 8, 2011
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). Johnny Lee Mackey pled guilty today to Murder in Anderson General Sessions Court. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced him to 45 years in prison.

On 5/16/09, Waliyyudden Dawson went to the defendant’s home on River Oaks Drive in Anderson. Two of Dawson’s children, ages 12 and 9, were in the vehicle with him. When they pulled into the driveway, Mackey came out of the house with a gun. The victim told Mackey that his kids were with him. Mackey said, “I don’t care, I don’t care,” and began firing. Waliyyudden Dawson was shot in the thigh, back, and head. He died at the scene. 

December 16, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Kathleen Taylor pled guilty today in Oconee County General Sessions Court to Embezzlement of Public Funds. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced her to 10 years suspended on service of 18 months and 5 years probation with restitution of $505,500. Judge Macaulay renewed Taylor’s bail and has allowed her to turn herself in on December 27th to begin her prison sentence.

Taylor was employed by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office from 2005 to 2009. As office manager, she was responsible for deposits and checks from the Sheriff’s Drug Forfeiture account. According to the SLED investigation, the defendant began taking funds from the account in 2007 and continued until her actions were discovered in November of 2009. Sheriff Singleton stated to the Court that new policies have been instituted by his office to prevent the recurrence of such actions. 

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December 15, 2010
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Walhalla, SC). Following a short deliberation, an Oconee County jury has found Dennis Temple guilty of 2 counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, Kidnapping and Grand Larceny. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Temple to a total of 100 years.

On May 9, 2010, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a 19-year old Clemson student arrived at her storage unit in Oconee County where she planned to place the last few items she had remaining in her dorm. Within minutes, Dennis Temple approached her, offering to sell her shoes. When she declined the offer and went to her car, she realized she had left her storage unit door open. As she attempted to close the door, the defendant assaulted her. He then placed a belt around her neck and dragged her to his storage unit. The victim blacked out and when she woke up, she was lying on a mattress in the defendant’s storage unit. Temple bound her with sheets and placed a sock in her mouth before raping her. The victim’s ordeal continued for approximately 9 hours until the defendant left the storage facility and the victim was able to locate a cell phone and call 911. Law enforcement and medical personnel arrived shortly thereafter and the victim was taken to Oconee Medical Center. Deputies arrested the defendant after the victim identified him in a photo lineup. Subsequent DNA testing by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also linked the defendant to the crime.

“It is rare and unfortunate that the victim in a case such as this has to face questions from her attacker in court, as this young lady did,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “She has shown amazing courage from the day of her attack through today when she was able to see Temple get the justice he deserves. The sentence handed down by Judge Maddox today will ensure that Dennis Temple will spend the rest of his life in prison. No one else will have to suffer the trauma that she endured at the hands of Dennis Temple.”

November 17, 2010
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com
(Walhalla, SC). An Oconee County jury found David Chavez guilty today of
the murder of his wife, Wendoli Berrera Chavez in October of 2009.The
Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Chavez to life in prison.
On October 14, 2009, between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., the victim had returned
to the house she had shared with Mr. Chavez to pick up her mail before
going to work. She and the defendant had been estranged for approximately
a month. While at the home, Chavez strangled his wife to death and then
stabbed her. Chavez and two of his relatives then drove to a local store
where they were recorded on surveillance video shopping around 4:00 p.m.
Upon returning home, Chavez called 911 and reported that he had stabbed
his wife. Autopsy results showed the cause of death was asphyxiation.
“This case was another tragic example of domestic violence which is a
serious problem in South Carolina,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Mr.
Chavez murdered his wife in a brutal fashion and freely admitted that he
killed her. We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and with the sentence
handed down by Judge Macaulay which will send Mr. Chavez to prison for
the rest of his life.”