10th Circuit Solicitor

September 4, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Walhalla, SC). Forty-year old Larry Douglas Smith of Walhalla pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to multiple sexually related charges. The Honorable James Williams sentenced Smith to 40 years. Smith received the maximum sentence of 10 years on each of 3 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree and 10 years on Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree, all of which are to be served consecutively.

In July of 2008, the Oconee County Sheriff’s office was contacted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office concerning an ongoing investigation involving various individuals in the distribution of child pornography along the East Coast. One of the Pennsylvania subjects stated that he had engaged in numerous episodes of child pornography exchange with an individual identified by the screen name “LVSBYS2003”. That screen name was traced back to an Oconee County address where the defendant, Larry Douglas Smith resided. Following the execution of a search warrant for Mr. Smith’s residence, Smith was found to be in possession of 126,000 images and 606 videos depicting child pornography. During the course of the investigation, Mr. Smith fully admitted that all of these images belonged to him and that he had been engaging in the distribution of child pornography since 2002. Smith also revealed that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with a male child between the years of 1986 and 1991. 

“This investigation is a perfect example of different agencies and even different states working together to protect our children. Thanks to the hard work of all those involved, especially the tremendous job of the Oconee County Sheriff’s office, Larry Douglas Smith has preyed upon a child for the last time,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “His forty year prison sentence means he is very likely to spend the rest of his natural life behind bars where he belongs.”

August 31, 2009
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(Walhalla, SC). Twenty-three year old Adarius Dennis was sentenced today in Oconee General Sessions Court to 23 years in prison for Armed Robbery. Dennis’ case was called for trial on June 22, 2009. After the jury was selected, Dennis failed to return to court. The trial continued in his absence and the jury returned a verdict of guilty for Armed Robbery. A bench warrant was issued for the defendant’s failure to appear and his sentence was sealed by the Court. Dennis was arrested on the bench warrant on August 4, 2009. The sealed sentence imposed by the Honorable Alex Macaulay was read in open court today. 

On June 22, 2008 Adarius Dennis was involved in a robbery that occurred in the Clinkscales Community of Seneca where approximately 90 pairs of shoes valued at $3000 were taken and the victim was beaten with a handgun. The incident took place in the presence of the victim’s four-year old daughter.

August 4, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). Hana Vondrasova, a citizen of the Czech Republic who had been residing in Duluth, Georgia, pled guilty Monday in Anderson General Sessions Court to Failure to Stop for a Blue Light resulting in Death. Judge Cordell Maddox sentenced Vondrasova to 15 years in prison. The defendant will be deported to her home country upon completion of her sentence.

On 10/18/2007, Hana Vondrosova was involved in a high-speed police chase along I85. At exit 27, she got off the interstate and ran the red light at the top of the hill striking a vehicle driven by Helen Jean McGill of Anderson. Helen McGill sustained injuries in the accident that were a proximate cause of her death on February 1, 2008. 

(Anderson, SC). The Honorable Cordell Maddox accepted a guilty plea today from 30-year old Stanley Burson Dehart III. DeHart pled to the Murder of 16-year old Talia Ashley along with several other charges. DeHart was sentenced to the following: 

1. Murder: 30 years 
2. Arson 2nd degree: 25 years concurrent with the Murder
3. Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill: 10 years consecutive to the 30 year Murder sentence
4. Malicious Injury to Personal Property: 5 years concurrent with the Murder 
5. Conspiracy: 5 years concurrent with the Murder 

On April 23, 2007, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and Anderson County Fire Department responded to a burning trailer on Beta Street in Anderson County. The defendant was at the scene and reported that his live-in girlfriend was still inside the burning trailer. After the fire was contained, the body of 16-year old Talia Ashley was discovered. An autopsy revealed that the victim had died of blunt force trauma to the head and that her death occurred prior to the fire being set. The murder weapon, a large rock, was found outside the defendant’s mother’s home and SLED testing confirmed the presence of both the victim and defendant’s DNA. Investigators also obtained a full written confession from the Defendant. 

While incarcerated, Dehart and a fellow prisoner conspired to escape from the Anderson County Detention Center and assaulted a detention officer in their attempt to escape. Dehart held the detention officer as the other inmate repeatedly hit him in the face and head. Prior to the attack on the officer, the 2 inmates destroyed a video camera in order to avoid the incident being recorded. 

June 26, 2009
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(Walhalla, SC). Twenty-three year old Adarius Quante Dennis of Anderson was convicted this week in Oconee General Sessions Court of Armed Robbery for an incident that took place on June 22, 2008 in Seneca, SC. Dennis and two co-defendants robbed the victim with a handgun, striking him numerous times in the head with the pistol. The robbery, in which approximately 90 pairs of shoes valued at $3000 were taken, took place in the presence of the victim’s four-year old daughter. 

The defendant appeared in court on Monday for jury selection but did not attend the trial on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was convicted of Armed Robbery in his absence and was sentenced by Judge Macaulay. The sentence was sealed and a bench warrant issued for the defendant.

(Anderson, SC). Brandon Taylor, 27, pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to numerous charges related to the operation of a “chop shop” on Willingham Road in Williamston. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Taylor to 10 years in prison.

Taylor was arrested in October of 2008 and charged with multiple charges including grand larceny, breaking into motor vehicles, receiving stolen goods, operating a chop shop, failure to stop for blue light, and burglary. Anderson County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

May 21, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Rahiem Kirkman, 32, of Greensboro, N.C., was sentenced yesterday in Anderson General Sessions Court to 25 years for Trafficking Cocaine. Kirkman, who failed to appear for his trial in November of 2007, was convicted of trafficking approximately $1 million worth of pure cocaine along Interstate 85. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sealed the sentence and issued a bench warrant for Kirkman on November 6, 2007.

Kirkman was arrested on August 23, 2006 one day after being stopped on 
I-85 after an Anderson deputy became suspicious of Kirkman’s behavior during a traffic stop. Kirkman fled the scene but was arrested the next day after another traffic stop on I-85 and another foot chase. 

Kirkman was captured in March of this year in New Jersey and transported back to Anderson for sentencing. 

HERRING SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS

May 18, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). James William Herring, 24, of Anderson pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to the armed robbery and murder of James “Scooter” Kelley in 2008. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Herring to 30 years on each charge to be served concurrently.

On May 3, 2008, James “Scooter” Kelley was found by residents of Keys Street in Anderson lying in the yard of a neighboring house. Mr. Kelley had been killed by a blow to the head with a cinderblock and also suffered stab wounds from the end of a pipe. Witnesses had seen Mr. Kelley and Herring together the day of the murder, both appearing to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Investigators found Mr. Kelley’s wallet and the pieces of the cinderblock by his body as well as the pipe in the bushes nearby. Herring’s girlfriend found Mr. Kelley’s prescriptions and driver’s license in Herring’s clothes and turned them over to investigators. 

May 15, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). An Anderson County jury returned a guilty verdict tonight in the murder trial of Garvin Vaughn Duvall, 50, and Frances Moore, 61, for the 1999 murder of Robert Paul Stephens. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced each defendant to 40 years. 

In November of 2006, investigators going over cold cases uncovered information leading to witnesses linking the two to Stephens’ death. Duvall and Moore were arrested and charged with Murder, Conspiracy, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. 

According to witness testimony, Frances Moore and her friend Garvin Duvall had been seen at the location on Baugh Road, just inside the Anderson County line where a fireman responding to a report of a vehicle on fire found Robert Paul Stephens lying on the ground beside the car. Mr. Stephens had been shot twice. Testimony revealed that Ms. Moore had offered $2000 to Duvall to kill Stephens, the estranged husband of her daughter. 

“The family of Robert Paul Stephens has waited 10 years to see justice for his senseless death. Hopefully now they can have some closure knowing that the two people responsible will spend the next 40 years of their lives behind bars.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

April 29, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Walhalla, SC). Thomas Keith Graham, 52, of Seneca was found guilty today of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature in Oconee General Sessions Court. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Graham to the maximum sentence of 10 years. He was also ordered to pay restitution and complete anger management counseling while in prison.

On August 23, 2007, Graham went to his ex-wife’s home around 1 a.m. under the influence of alcohol. After threatening her, Graham beat her, breaking her jaw and inflicting multiple bruises over her entire body. The victim escaped to a neighbor’s house and law enforcement was called. Graham was arrested after being found by law enforcement passed out in the victim’s bed with her blood on his hands. 

“I hope the maximum sentence that was handed down today sends a clear message that our office will continue to vigorously prosecute domestic violence cases,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “I want to thank the jury for their service and Seneca Police Department and our prosecutors for their work on this case. Thanks to their efforts this violent criminal will spend the next decade in prison.”