10th Circuit Solicitor

April 29, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). Sean Simpkins pled guilty today to multiple sex offenses in Oconee General Sessions Court. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced him to 25 years for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 1st Degree, 20 years for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree, and 15 years for Lewd Act on a Minor. All sentences are to be served concurrently. Under “Jessie’s Law” Simpkins will be on mandatory GPS monitoring for life when he is released from prison and will be on the sex offender registry. He will also be listed on the Central Registry of child abuse and neglect.

Between December 1, 2008 and November 8, 2009, Simpkins engaged in a sexual relationship with a juvenile female who was between 10 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse. The incidents occurred in the defendant’s home in the city of Walhalla. The victim disclosed to family members and the Walhalla Police Department conducted an investigation. The defendant admitted to the crimes when questioned.

“Mr. Simpkins is a clear danger to the children in our community,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Thanks to today’s sentence, he will spend more than two decades in prison and be monitored for the rest of his life so that he can never again harm another child.” 

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April 27, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Following separate evaluations by both the State and the Defense, the Honorable Cordell Maddox accepted the plea of Guilty but Mentally Ill of William Bradley Scruggs today in Anderson General Sessions Court to multiple charges surrounding the death of Ronnie McCullough in August of 2009. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Scruggs to life for Murder, life for Burglary 1st Degree, 30 years for Kidnapping, and 5 years for Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. 

On August 5, 2009, the defendant broke into Ronnie McCullough’s home while he was gone. When McCullough returned, Scruggs held him at gunpoint for several hours before killing him and taking items from the home. Scruggs left in McCullough’s car which he later attempted to return to the wrong house. The victim’s body was found by family members on August 9th. The defendant stated to law enforcement that he had been hearing voices at the time of the murder. Scruggs was diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder by forensic psychiatrists for both the state and the defense. 

April 20, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Juan Carlos Garcia Sanchez pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Sanchez to 20 years suspended to 10 years in prison with 5 years probation to follow. Sanchez, who is in the United States illegally, will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement on completion of his sentence.

On June 22, 2009, Angie Major awoke to her ex-boyfriend, Juan Sanchez, sitting on top of her with a knife in his hand. He said if he couldn’t have her, no one could and then stabbed her in the neck. She fought back and he stabbed her in the neck again. Sanchez eventually turned the knife on himself and cut himself twice. He fled the scene but returned shortly thereafter, where he was taken into custody. Major had been able to escape and call 911. She was in the hospital 10 days. 

April 6, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Forty-five year old Billy Ray Burriss pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Murder for the death of his wife, Suzanne Burriss in December of 2008. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Burriss to 30 years. 

On December 7, 2008, the defendant’s mother called 911 after hearing noise and seeing blood on the bed in the defendant’s room. Upon arrival Anderson city police officers found a large amount of blood in the bedroom as well as on the window and outside the window. A sawed-off shotgun was found on the floor of the bedroom. A canine unit eventually found the victim’s body in a trash can at a neighboring residence. Ms. Burriss died as the result of a single gunshot wound to the back. 

“Today’s sentence means an abusive husband and murderer will not be able to harm anyone else in our community,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “This case represents a tragic loss of life and a reminder to our community that domestic violence continues to be a serious problem in our state.” 

March 30, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Antonio Lintae Glover was found guilty today by an Anderson County jury of Trafficking Crack and Resisting Arrest. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Glover to 15 years for Trafficking Crack and 1 year for Resisting Arrest. The sentences will be served concurrently. 

On August 7, 2007, Glover was seen by officers of the Anderson Police Department making what appeared to be a drug transaction. When officers attempted to take the defendant into custody, he resisted. Once in custody, Glover was found to have 19.14 grams of crack cocaine in his pocket.

March 17, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). An Oconee County jury found 36 year old Jeffrey A. Webb of Westminster guilty yesterday of two counts of Armed Robbery and two counts of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Webb to 20 years in prison.

On July 23, 2009, Webb entered a home on Little River Lane in Walhalla and pointed a gun at one of the residents. Webb hit the man in the head with the gun and stole the victim’s pistol. The defendant then proceeded to another room in the house and stole approximately $125 from a second resident at gunpoint. A shot was fired into the wall of the home. Another shot was fired as the defendant fled the scene. The victims called 911.

Deputies arriving on the scene located Webb at another residence in the area. After Webb ran into the woods still armed, the SWAT team was called out. Officers chased Webb but were unable to apprehend him at that time. He was captured three days later at a home in Seneca.

“Thanks to the excellent work done by law enforcement Mr. Webb was arrested before he could cause any more harm. Now, after the jury’s careful consideration and the sentence handed down by Judge Macaulay, Mr. Webb will remain in prison for a long time where he will no longer pose a threat to the safety of our community,” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

March 17, 2010
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(Walhalla, SC). As the jury waited to begin the trial of State v. William Strother “Loco” Evans in Oconee General Sessions court for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 1st Degree, the defendant waived his right to trial and pled guilty. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Evans to 25 years.

In February of 2008, Evans sexually assaulted a 13-year old girl. The incident was reported to law enforcement the following day. Evans was arrested following a recorded phone call from the victim during which he confessed to the crime. A bench warrant was issued for Evans after he failed to appear for court in December of 2008. He was re-arrested on December 9, 2009.

Evans’ criminal history dates back over 30 years and includes multiple assaults, drug charges, domestic violence, property crimes and a prior (1985) sexual assault. 

“I want to commend the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward. Because of her strength and willingness to testify, a sexual predator with a history of violent crime will now spend the next 25 years in prison where he belongs.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

March 8, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Ralph Lee Rumsey and Stanley Ray Sheriff both pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Carjacking charges. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced each defendant to 20 years suspended to 14 years in prison with 3 years probation to follow. 

On May 18, 2008, Evatt and Sheriff drove an RV owned by their employer, an exterminating company, to the home of the victims, who were a prior customer of the exterminating company. The defendants asked the elderly couple for help, claiming the RV had a dead battery and needed to be jumped. When the victim returned to the RV with jumper cables to help the defendants, Rumsey held a knife to her and told her to get out of the truck or he would kill her. The victim ran inside her house as Rumsey and Sheriff drove off in her truck. The truck was recovered in Georgia. The defendants were arrested in Alabama and extradicted back to SC.

“This was a senseless and violent act that has truly affected these victims who were only trying to help. It is a sad reminder that you never know what form or under what circumstances violence could strike. These defendants, however, will not be able to terrorize any more victims in our community for years to come.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

March 8, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Kenneth McGill pled guilty in Anderson County General Sessions Court today to Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced McGill to 13 years. 

On November 25, 2008 officers with the Iva Police Department responded to McGill’s residence in reference to a potential methamphetamine lab. Upon their arrival, McGill was found to be in possession of all the necessary materials needed to make methamphetamine and to also be in possession of methamphetamine itself. This was the defendant’s second drug-related offense.

March 4, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). James Dickerson, 42, pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Homicide by Child Abuse which carries a sentence of 20 years to life. After reviewing the evidence and statements made by both the State and the defense, the Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Dickerson to life in prison. 

On November 28, 2008, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 215 W. Church Road in Anderson County in reference to a 7 year old male child who was in cardiac arrest. At the scene, EMS confirmed that the child had died and had numerous bruises and lacerations covering his body. According to EMS personnel, this Defendant stated that “he had whipped him the previous evening, but didn’t think he had whipped him that hard.” The Defendant eventually gave a written statement after being mirandized. A mop found at the scene and identified in the defendant’s statement as being used in the beating was sent to SLED for testing. Although the defendant’s DNA was found on the mop handle, no conclusive statement could be made regarding the vicitm’s DNA. Dr. Brett Woodard performed an autopsy on the child, ruling the cause of death as hemorrhagic shock due to massive blunt force trauma. In laymen’s terms, Dr. Woodard described that the force used on this child was consistent with the bumper of a car striking a human being at 35 mph. The injuries were consistent with a beating in which the child ended up in a defensive position possibly on the floor, which is where the child was found. The child was also found to have postmortem injuries. 

“There are no words to express how horrendous the injuries were to this little boy. The horror which was felt by his little brother as he watched the beating is heartbreaking. The memories of this incident will be with him forever. We are fortunate that the Judge agreed with the State that this crime deserved the maximum sentence.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.