10th Circuit Solicitor

April 24, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). Forty-year old Earl Dean “Buddy” Jordan of Walhalla SC was charged with Criminal Negligent Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death (SC Code of Laws §50-01-0085(4)) on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. He was subsequently released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. 

The charge follows an investigation into the shooting death of Adam Corey Becker on March 21, 2009 during a wild hog hunt on property outside of Walhalla. 

April 15, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Nineteen year old Danielle Bowen pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Homicide by Child Abuse. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Bowen to 25 years suspended to 20 years and 5 years probation. 

Bowen was arrested January 8, 2008 following the death of her 6 month old daughter, Hailey Marie Wilson. Autopsy results revealed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the abdomen, resulting in internal injuries and multi-organ failure. After initially denying her actions, the defendant eventually admitted to stomping on the child and then holding her by the throat and striking her on the head when she wouldn’t stop crying. 

“It is difficult to understand how someone could commit such an act against a helpless child, no matter what the circumstances. Danielle Bowen will now have the next twenty years to remember the day her daughter died as a result of her actions and hopefully come to accept responsibility for the senseless loss of a precious child.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

April 8, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Twenty-eight year old Carius Lomax of Anderson, tried in his absence after failing to return to court for jury selection on February 2, 2009, received his sentence Wednesday in Anderson General Sessions Court. The trial proceeded and the defendant was convicted in his absence. The sentence was sealed until Lomax was located and arrested on a Bench Warrant on March 26th. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Lomax to 20 years for Trafficking Crack Cocaine and 5 years for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance to be served concurrently. He will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

On April 28, 2008 Anderson City Police officers were responding to a report of a man with a gun on Dickson Avenue in Anderson, when Lomax almost hit the officers’ vehicle as they approached the intersection near the location of the call. The officers initiated a traffic stop at which time Lomax gave a false name. Lomax was identified by one of the officers on the scene and he was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. The officers searched the car incident to the arrest and found 10.23 grams of crack cocaine and 19 hydrocodone tablets. 

March 26, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Charles Randy Horne, Jr. pled guilty today to four counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 1st Degree. The Honorable J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Horne to 23 years in prison. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

Horne was arrested in 2008 after the female victim, now 16, reported to law enforcement that the defendant had molested her on multiple occasions when she was between the ages of 6 and 9. The victim was in the custody of Horne’s parents at the time of the incidents.

“Mr. Horne took advantage of a young innocent girl, forever changing her life. It took great courage for this young lady to confront her abuser. Hopefully she can now move on with her life.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams. 

March 9, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Just before a jury was drawn, Donald Joe Baskin, 41, of Anderson SC pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to the Murder of Mark Powell in 2007. The Honorable J C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Baskin to Life without Parole. 

On May 5, 2007, Baskin stabbed Mark Powell, an acquaintance, 18 times with a steak knife while in Powell’s home. Mr. Powell was discovered the following afternoon when he didn’t answer his mother’s phone calls. Baskin had been seen by a neighbor at Mr. Powell’s home the night before the murder and the victim’s blood was found on the defendant’s clothing when he was arrested. Following the murder, Baskin told family members that he had stabbed someone.

March 4, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Twenty-six year old Donques Hood of Anderson pled guilty yesterday to 4 counts of Armed Robbery; 3 counts of Criminal Conspiracy; 3 counts of Kidnapping; and 1 count of Possession of a Weapon in the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Hood to 30 years suspended upon service of 20 years in prison and 5 years probation. 

Hood and five co-defendants were responsible for a string of armed robberies at Little Caesars on Shockley Ferry Road and Ingles grocery stores on Highway 24 and Highway 81 in Anderson County between December 2005 and July 2006. All of Hood’s co-defendants had previously pled guilty and are already serving prison time.

February 9, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). James Kennedy, 64, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison by the Honorable J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson after pleading guilty on Friday to 3 counts of Lewd Act, 3 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd degree, 1 count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 1st degree, and 1 count of Carnal Knowledge of a Woman Child. Mr. Kennedy admitted to sexually molesting 5 different victims over a 30-year period, from 1971 until 1997. 

Judge Nicholson sentenced the defendant as follows: Carnal Knowledge of a Woman Child-30 years; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 1st degree-25 years concurrent; 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd degree-20 years each concurrent; 1 count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd degree-5 years consecutive to the 25 year sentence; and 3 counts of Lewd Act-10 years each concurrent. 

“There is no punishment that can ever make up for what he did to his victims,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “I’m pleased, however, that the sentence handed down today means the defendant will most likely spend the rest of his natural life behind bars where he belongs.” 

February 6, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Following jury selection in Anderson County General Sessions Court this week, thirty-six year old Tyrone Rainey entered a guilty plea to Trafficking Crack Cocaine. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Rainey to 12 years in prison. This is Mr. Rainey’s second offense and he will serve 85 percent of his sentence. 

On January 3, 2007, while executing a search warrant at 306 West River Street, the Anderson Police Department narcotics unit arrested Rainey after finding 17 grams of crack in his bedroom.

February 6, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Twenty-two year old Ralph Vosburgh, III pled guilty but mentally ill to Voluntary Manslaughter and a weapons charge yesterday in Anderson County General Sessions Court. The Honorable J. C. Nicholson sentenced Vosburgh to 20 years in prison for Manslaughter and 5 years on the weapons charge, which is to be served concurrently.

On January 24, 2008, Belton Police Department responded to a call made by Vosburgh regarding a shooting at his home on Sunset Drive in Belton. When they arrived at the home they found the victim, Barry Ashley, who also lived at the residence, shot to death. Vosburgh confessed to the shooting and cooperated during the investigation with law enforcement. His evaluations confirmed that he suffered from severe mental illness at the time of the shooting. 

January 27, 2009
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(Walhalla, SC). Twenty-one year old David Lee Coward of Salem, SC was found guilty in Oconee County General Sessions Court today of Burglary 1st Degree and Petit Larceny. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Coward to 15 years in prison. 

On July 26, 2007, Coward broke into a home in Salem taking two firearms, an X-Box game console and some games. The homeowner’s dog was shot and killed during the burglary. Coward has a prior criminal history