10th Circuit Solicitor

March 3, 2010
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

Anderson, SC. In proceedings held in Anderson County General Sessions Court today and yesterday, Xavier Brown and Devon Maddox both pled guilty to 3 counts of Armed Robbery, 3 counts of Kidnapping, and 2 counts of Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill. The State recommended a 20 year sentence for each defendant. Neither defendant had a prior record. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Xavier Brown to 20 years suspended to 15 years and 5 years probation on each charge. Devon Maddox was sentenced to 25 years suspended to 17 years and 5 years probation on the Armed Robbery charges, 17 years on each Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill and 17 years on each Kidnapping charge. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 

On May 10, 2009, Anderson city police officers responded to the Hardees at 100 Fritz Drive in Anderson County in reference to a an armed robbery and shooting. When they arrived, officers learned that two masked men armed with a handgun entered the business after closing around 11:40 pm through a door left open while the manager was outside. Brown, an employee of the restaurant since December of 2008, took the manager back inside, pointing a gun at his head. Brown then ordered the manager and two other employees to get inside the cooler. Maddox took the gun and and began shooting into the cooler. Only the manager escaped injury. Both of the other employees received multiple gunshot wounds. The robbers took the money from the safe and then fled on foot. Although the gunmen were masked, one of the employees was able to identify Brown’s voice.

During the early investigation, both Brown and Maddox stated that they were in Georgia at the time of the incident. However, Brown’s cell phone records indicated that he was only a few blocks away from Hardees during the time surrounding the robbery. Maddox subsequently gave a statement to police detailing the planning and execution of the crime. Maddox stated that during the robbery he was using his finger as a gun until Brown handed him the gun after retrieving the money from the safe and told him to shoot. Maddox stated, “I just started shooting. I shot until I didn’t hear any noise.” 

(Anderson, SC) 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams released the following statement today regarding the investigation into former Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston and related matters. 



“After repeated requests and countless conversations with local officials who to date have not provided any specific information for our office to review, we have been unable to make an evaluation on whether charges should be pressed against Mr. Preston or any other county officials/employees. The Attorney General’s office has now been asked to look into the Preston investigation and convene a statewide grand jury which possesses greater investigative powers than possible under a local Anderson County grand jury. I have spoken with the Attorney General’s office and believe this will be the best course of action at this point because the statewide grand jury provides for subpoena power that does not exist with a local grand jury. SC Code Section 14-7-1610(C) of SC Code states in part…. ….that a state grand jury possessing considerably broader investigative authority than individual grand juries should be available to investigate public corruption offenses in SC…..

After several months and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on this investigation, I hope that the involvement of the Attorney General’s office can finally bring the taxpayers of Anderson County the answers they deserve.”

(Walhalla, SC). After a jury was selected this morning in Oconee County General Sessions Court, the Honorable Alex Macaulay accepted a plea from twenty-one year old Michael Daniels for injuring his 10-week old son in March of 2008. Judge Macaulay sentenced Daniels to 6 years on 3 charges of Unlawful Conduct towards a Child, and 20 years suspended to 6 years in prison and 5 years probation on 3 charges of Inflicting Great Bodily Injury to a Child. All sentences are to be served concurrently. Daniels will be placed on the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect. 

On March 3, 2008, 10-week old Michael Isaiah Daniels was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital with bruising and eye-swelling by his mother. Upon examination, the child was found to have 20 rib fractures and 7 leg fractures and a torn lip. 

Both the child’s mother and father were interviewed by Walhalla Police Department. The defendant initially told law enforcement that the child had fallen off the bed but later confessed to having anger management and drug abuse problems. He admitted to grabbing the child around the ribs and shaking him on 3 separate occasions between February 15th and March 3 of 2008.

“We asked for the maximum sentence in this case because we believed the heinousness of the defendant’s actions warranted it. We are disappointed in the Judge’s sentencing but respect the decision. Our office will continue to seek the maximum sentence in serious incidents of child abuse such as this one. It is a blessing to know that even after all this little boy has been through, he appears to have suffered no permanent injuries. He is two years old now and thriving.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

January 14, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). Forty-four year old Anthony Mattison of Anderson was found guilty by an Anderson County jury today. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Mattison to twenty-five years in prison. 

On April 11, 2007, officers from the Anderson Police Department arrested Mattison for Open Container. In a search pursuant to the arrest, crack cocaine was found in Mr. Mattison’s genitalia. He was subsequently charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, third offense. 

“Keeping the community safe means taking drugs off our streets. We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict and the Judge’s sentence in this case which will keep a repeat drug offender in prison for the next twenty-five years,” commented Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

January 12, 2010
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(Anderson, SC). After a two-day trial, an Anderson County jury has found Alexander Chance Partain guilty of Discharging a Firearm into a Vehicle. The Honorable Lawton McIntosh sentenced Partain to 5 years suspended to 14 months in prison and 3 years probation. 

On May 15, 2008, the victim, Leslie Hicks, was travelling on Cumming Springs Road in the Starr/Iva area of Anderson County, with her two young daughters in the back seat of her vehicle. As Ms. Hicks approached the residence, she passed the Defendant who was driving his Black Honda Accord. As the victim passed the Defendant’s car he fired a handgun multiple times at Ms. Hicks vehicle striking it once in the trunk area of the car. 

After making sure her children were safe the victim called 911 and was able to identify her shooter immediately as the defendant. 

The boyfriend of the victim and the stepbrother of the defendant had been involved in an altercation earlier on the day of the incident. The defendant and victim were both present during the altercation. The stepbrother of the defendant testified he was with the Defendant when he shot the firearm at the victim’s vehicle and that they had been riding around looking for the victim’s car after the altercation earlier that day.

“We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict and the Judge’s sentence in this case. Mr. Partain acted out of anger and his reckless and violent behavior could have cost the lives of innocent victims.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

December 14, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). After a thorough review of the evidence presented by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, there will be no State criminal charges filed in relation to the death of Mr. Robert Thompson. 

On September 19, 2009, Mr. Thompson was a passenger in a car that was stopped by the Anderson Police Department for a traffic violation. It was discovered that Mr. Thompson had an outstanding warrant. When the officers went to take him into custody, Mr. Thompson pushed the car door into one of the officers and fled. A foot pursuit ensued. Officer Small and Thompson became separated from the other officers during the chase. Officer Small was able to take Thompson into custody after an intense struggle. During this struggle, Officer Small was forced to place his arms around Mr. Thompson in a manner that resulted in Mr. Thompson’s neck being compressed against his own arm. According to the CAD report, the struggle lasted approximately two and a half minutes. The evidence showed that Mr. Thompson was still breathing when the handcuffs were placed on him and for several minutes afterwards. 

An autopsy of Mr. Thompson revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck vascular compression. According to Dr. Woodard, the autopsy results are consistent with the evidence presented by SLED. 

During the initial traffic stop Mr. Thompson informed the other occupants in the car that if the police tried to arrest him he was going to run. Mr. Thompson has a history of resisting arrest and during the struggle Small attempted to release his grip several times, all while instructing Thompson to stop resisting, and Thompson failed to comply throughout the arrest process. 

December 14, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Please join us today at 3:30 p.m. at AIM’s WACS Cottage, 1206 S. Murray St., Anderson, SC 29624. We will be presenting Christmas gifts to several needy families and their children in the Anderson community. 

In an effort to assist the community during the holidays, the Diversion Program Department of the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office has collected over $8,000 worth of toys to be dispersed by Anderson Interfaith Ministries to families in need during this Christmas season. The toys were collected by allowing clients of the Diversion Programs to exchange $30 worth of children’s toys or clothes for 10 hours of community service. With the toy drive only in its second year, the effort is an overwhelming success.

Due to the success of the toy drive, Solicitor Adams has decided to extend this idea throughout the year. Beginning immediately, the Diversion Program office will coordinate with a different agency, requesting a supply list from them. The supply drive will occur for a set time period with all donations being delivered to that agency. The first such collaboration will be with the Nurse Family Partnership of DHEC and will begin Monday, December 21, 2009. 

December 9, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). After less than an hour of deliberations, an Anderson County jury has found 34-year old Kevin Gilliard guilty of Trafficking Crack Cocaine more than 28 grams, less than 100 grams, Third Offense. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Gilliard to 25 years in prison.

The defendant was a passenger in a car that was stopped by Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for disregarding a stop sign on 4/19/09. During booking on marijuana charges at the Anderson County Detention Center, Gilliard was found to have 44.63 grams of crack cocaine in his pants. 

December 4, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). An Oconee County jury found twenty-nine year old Adam Laye of Seneca guilty today of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Laye to 10 years suspended on service of 30 months followed by 5 years probation. Laye will be required to complete a domestic violence counseling program as well as substance abuse counseling.

In June of 2008, Laye had a disagreement with a former girlfriend at a bar in Seneca. Laye hit the victim in the head with his head and with a beer bottle several times. Witnesses at the scene attempted to come to the aid of the victim before the proprietor forced Laye to leave.

Medical testimony indicated that the injuries sustained by the victim during the attack were life-threatening. A surveillance video of the assault along with pictures of the victim’s injuries were presented to the jury during the trial. 

“Domestic violence is a serious problem in South Carolina,” commented Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “We are pleased with today’s guilty verdict and hope it sends a message to those in our community who resort to physical abuse that you will be prosecuted and you will go to jail. For those in abusive relationships I also hope this shows them that the time to seek help is now.” 

November 30, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Before jury selection could begin today, twenty-nine year old Michael Ervin Cleveland pled guilty in Oconee General Sessions Court to Armed Robbery (2 counts) and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced him to 15 years on each Armed Robbery to be served concurrently and 5 years on the Weapons charge. 

In January of this year, Cleveland and a co-defendant robbed J&Z Food Mart in Seneca at gunpoint taking beer and cash. On the following day, the same two men entered Belks in Seneca wearing masks and took clerks to the rear of the store at gunpoint, forcing them to open the safe. They escaped with $15,000 in cash. As part of a separate investigation, the Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain information leading to the arrest of Cleveland.