10th Circuit Solicitor

October 22, 2010
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). Twenty-six year old Korey Mayfield pled guilty today under NC v. Alford to Reckless Homicide just before the defense began presenting its case, following a week-long trial. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced him to 10 years suspended to 2 years home incarceration with 5 years probation to follow. 

On July 11, 2008 Korey Mayfield was driving a vehicle that was being pursued by the SC Highway Patrol for speeding. Shortly after SCHP terminated the pursuit due to safety reasons, Mayfield, whose speed reached in excess of 100 miles per hour during the chase, lost control of the vehicle and slammed into several trees. Randi Harper and Sharmin Walls, who were traveling in the back seat, were both injured. Christopher Adam Timms, the front seat passenger, died in the accident. Mayfield was also seriously injured in the crash. Ms. Harper testified that the passengers had pleaded with Mayfield to slow down. 

September 3, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Jose Luna-Cobarruvias pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to one count of Felony DUI resulting in death and two counts of Felony DUI resulting in Great Bodily Injury. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced him to 20 years on the Felony DUI resulting in death and 15 years on each count of Felony DUI with great bodily injury. All sentences will run concurrently. A detainer has been placed on the defendant, who is in the United States illegally, by the Federal Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) division. The defendant will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.

On May 16, 2009, the defendant was driving on US 29 in Anderson County when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line, hitting another vehicle. Susan and Raymond Sigman were seriously injured. Eighty-five year old Katy Eaton, a passenger in the vehicle, died as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident. Cobarruvias’ blood alcohol level at the time of the wreck was .271. 

“This case is another heartbreaking example of the dangers of drinking and driving,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence, you not only put your life at risk but those of your passengers and everyone else on the road. These types of cases are easily preventable and that is what makes them so tragic. The case of Mr. Cobarruvias, however, is especially tragic because as an illegal alien he should not have even been in this country to begin with.” 

August 26, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Following examination of competency evaluations and
reports by Dr. Michael Gassen of the South Carolina Department of Mental
Health, the Honorable Alex Macaulay has accepted recommendations from
both the State and the Defense that eighty year-old Alfred Dawkins be
declared not competent and not likely to restore as relates to the death of his
sister, Johelen Owens. SC Code of Laws §44-23-430 Section 2 states:
… the person is unfit to stand trial for the reasons set forth
in Section 44-23-410 and is unlikely to become fit to stand
trial in the foreseeable future, the solicitor responsible for
the criminal prosecution shall initiate judicial admission
proceedings pursuant to Sections 44-17-510 through 44-17-
610 or Section 44-20-450 within fourteen days, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, during which time the
court may order the person hospitalized, may order the
person to continue in detention if detained, or, if on bond,
may permit the person to remain on bond;
Judge Macaulay ordered the State to proceed with judicial admission
proceedings in the Probate Court pursuant to SC Code of Laws §44-17-510.
On March 26, 2009, Seneca Police Department was dispatched to the
Dawkins childhood home after Mr. Dawkins called 911 stating that he had
killed his sister. Following Dawkins’ arrest, a series of mental evaluations
were conducted which resulted in a diagnosis of dementia of the
Alzheimer’s type, characterized by delusions of a persecutory nature. Based
on this diagnosis, doctors with the South Carolina Department of Mental
Health opined that Dawkins did not have the capacity to understand the
proceedings against him or to assist his attorney in his own defense.
“The expert testimony clearly demonstrated that Mr. Dawkins was not
mentally fit to stand trial. We believe that confinement to a mental hospital
is the best resolution to prevent Mr. Dawkins from harming anyone else in
our community,” said Solicitor Adams. “Our thoughts go out to the entire
family in this case who have gone through a very difficult and emotional
time.”

August 3, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Tenth Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams’ Diversion Programs in Oconee County delivered approximately $3,000 worth of diapers, hygiene products, and school supplies today to the United Way of Oconee. The items were purchased by participants in PTI (Pre-Trial Intervention) and AEP (Alcohol Education Program). Participants were allowed to donate items in lieu of a portion of community service they are required to perform under the programs. Collection of the items began in March of this year. The items will be distributed as needed by the United Way and the Family Friends Program. 

“This is a wonderful way for participants of PTI and AEP to feel that they have truly given back to the community. We will continue to reach out to other organizations in our community that provide direct services to children and families in need.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

July 30, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). David Teray Sanders was found guilty by an Oconee County jury on Thursday, July 29th, on the charges of Trafficking in Crack Cocaine (10-28 grams), 3rd offense, Trafficking in Cocaine (more than 200 but less than 400 grams), 3rd offense, and Failure to Stop for a Blue Light. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Sanders to 3 years on the Failure to Stop for Blue Light charge and 25 years on each of the trafficking charges, all to run concurrent.

On May 21, 2009, an officer with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to make a traffic stop in the area of Exit 4 on I-85 North. The vehicle, driven by Sanders, accelerated away from the officer in an attempt to evade. Sanders then drove off the interstate, ran his vehicle through several pine trees and stopped near a field in the Fair Play area of Oconee County. He and a passenger exited the vehicle, jumped a fence, and ran from law enforcement. During the chase, Sanders threw down a gun and several packages of what was later identified as cocaine and crack cocaine.

Law enforcement officers from the Oconee Sheriff’s Office located Sanders approximately 1/2 mile from the scene where he first fled on foot. Approximately 22 grams of crack cocaine and 340 grams of cocaine were found at the scene.

Sanders was on probation from the State of Georgia at the time of his arrest. He currently has a detainer from the U. S. Marshals Office for a Federal Probation violation, as well as pending drug charges from the State of North Carolina.

July 29, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Earl Dean Jordan pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to Negligent Discharge of a Firearm While Hunting Causing a Death. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Jordan to 3 years suspended to 90 days home incarceration to be followed by 2 years probation.

Jordan and the victim, Adam Becker, were hog hunting with a group near New Cut Road outside of Walhalla in March of 2009. Becker was coming through the woods when Jordan negligently discharged his firearm in Becker’s direction. Becker died at Oconee Memorial Hospital later that day from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. 

July 28, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). James M. Baskerville pled guilty today in Oconee General
Sessions Court to Voluntary Manslaughter and also to Death of a Child of in
Utero during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Cordell
Maddox sentenced Baskerville to 30 years on each charge to be served
concurrently.
The Defendant met the victim, Karla Benson, in 2008 while they were
employed at Oconee Medical Center. At that time they began an on
again/off again relationship that lasted up until the time of Karla’s death. In
June of 2009, Karla began making plans to move out of State. Based on
emails between Karla and the defendant right before her death, it is obvious
that the defendant was still hoping that Karla would ask him to move away
with her and that he believed that he was the father of her child. On June 20,
2009, a friend of Karla’s took her to meet the Defendant at his workplace so
Karla could get money from the Defendant. About an hour later, the owner
of the business arrived to drop off some items and found the Defendant
inside bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to his head and
immediately ran out and called the police. When law enforcement arrived,
they found Ms. Benson’s body in a storage room within the facility. Seneca
Police Department conducted the crime scene processing and investigation
in this case. Investigation and SLED analysis indicate that the same weapon
shot both the defendant and Ms. Benson. Ms. Benson’s autopsy revealed her
wounds could not have been self-inflicted, were consistent with homicide,
and that she was 20 weeks pregnant with a male child. Investigation into the
defendant’s gunshot wound revealed it was self-inflicted. Crime scene
processing did not indicate the presence of any 3rd party at the scene and
GSR analysis was positive for both the Defendant and the victim. The
defendant’s bag found at the scene contained ammunition for the firearm in
question. Bloody footprints throughout the crime scene were found to be
consistent with the shoes the Defendant was wearing. All DNA samples
collected at the scene belonged to either the Defendant or the victim.
“We are very pleased with the sentence imposed by the Judge in this case.
The loss of this mother and unborn child is a horrible tragedy. Many lives
were drastically changed by the events of that day.”

July 27, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Nineteen-year old Cody Christian Dean Lecroy pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to Arson 3rd Degree, 2 counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, and Malicious Damage to Property. After the State requested an active jail sentence, the Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Lecroy to 15 years suspended to 5 years probation. Lecroy was also ordered to complete a drug rehab program in the state of Georgia.

Lecroy was arrested in July of 2009 following the burning of St. Luke United Methodist Church in downtown Walhalla. He was also charged with burglarizing a liquor store and cutting the tires on a Red Cross van.

July 20, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Sixty-two year old Roger Dale Blume pleaded guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced him to 20 years suspended on service of 15 years with 5 years probation. Blume will also be required to register as a sex offender.

On January 24th thru 25th of 2009, the 5-year old victim was visiting with relatives. Upon the child’s return home, a grandparent noticed an area of redness while bathing the child and sought medical attention. A medical exam indicated trauma in the vaginal area. 

July 20, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). An Anderson County jury took less than 15 minutes to convict David Dale Sheriff for the burglary of a Honea Path home. Based on the defendant’s prior record, the State had served the defendant with notice of intent to seek a sentence of Life without the possibility of parole. Following the jury’s verdict, The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced him to life.

On August 19, 2005, the Defendant entered the victim’s home by breaking the back glass door with a deer stand ladder. The Defendant then entered the home, rifling through the victim’s belongings and ultimately stealing $1,500 in cash, binoculars, and a range finder. During the burglary, the Defendant left his blood on the alarm system key pad and on the spare bedroom door. Law enforcement collected the blood evidence which was then submitted to SLED for analysis. SLED was able to determine that the blood collected at the scene matched that of the Defendant. The Defendant has a long prior record of Burglaries.