10th Circuit Solicitor

March 4, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(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

January 9, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). Thirty-five year old Kevin Ware of Anderson was found guilty today of Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within Proximity of a Park. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Ware to 10 years on each charge to be served concurrently. 

On January 15, 2007, Anderson city police officers executed a search warrant at 305 E Street where Ware had gone to sell a quantity of crack cocaine to an individual. Officers found Ware to be in possession of 2.4 grams of crack cocaine. 

Ware had a prior conviction for Trafficking.

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January 8, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). After a day of deliberations, an Anderson jury found Shawn Williams, 43, guilty of murder, death of a child in utero, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime involving the 2007 death of Josephine Estrich. Judge J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Williams to life for both the murder and the death of a child in utero and five years on the weapon charge. All sentences are to be served concurrently.

Thirty-four year old Josephine Estrich’s body was found lying on the side of Grate Road in Anderson around 9:15 p.m. on January 22, 2007. She had been stabbed in the chest one time. She was five weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Estrich had been seen earlier in the evening with Shawn Williams, a man who she had broken off a relationship with earlier in the day. Williams fled to Mobile, Alabama where was he was arrested on January 23rd and extradited back to Anderson County.

“The death of Josephine Estrich and her unborn child is a tragedy that no verdict can lessen. Hopefully, however, seeing justice done will provide some comfort to her family.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams. 

December 18, 2008
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(Walhalla, SC). Mark Neal Golden, originally charged with the murder and sexual assault of Daisy Ruth Snider which took place in 1988, pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to Murder. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Golden to life in prison. This sentence will run concurrent with his July 2003 conviction for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania. Mr. Golden will finish the remainder of his sentence in Pennsylvania and will then return to SC to serve the remainder of his life sentence. 

On November 27, 1988, 42 year old Daisy Snider attended church services at Geer Memorial Baptist Church in Easley, SC. She then stopped by the store and purchased milk, but apparently never made it home. Her car was later found at the Easley Jr. High School track, locked, with her purse, shoes, and the milk still inside. Several days later, a hunter found her body in the woods near Duke Power. She had been strangled and shot. In 2004, DNA evidence which had been collected at the scene of the murder was found to be a match with Golden’s DNA on file from his arrest in Pennsylvania. Following extradition proceedings Golden was returned to South Carolina in 2008. 

November 19, 2008
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(Walhalla, SC). Barry Lee Jackson pled guilty today in Oconee General Sessions Court to Voluntary Manslaughter. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Jackson to twenty years in prison.

Jackson was charged in the death of Kimberly Parker, his girlfriend, on April 19, 2008 after an apparent altercation between the two in the home they shared in West Union. The autopsy revealed that Ms. Parker’s death was a result of blunt force trauma consistent with a physical altercation.

(Anderson, SC) On October 10th, an Anderson County jury found thirty-two year old George Grant of Anderson, SC guilty of Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st Degree and Kidnapping. The Honorable J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Grant to 24 years suspended to service of 14 years with 5 years probation for the sexual assault and 12 years for kidnapping. The sentences are to be served concurrently. 

On Sept 1, 2006 George Grant went to the home of his ex-girlfriend at 340 Echo Circle in Anderson County. Once inside, he sexually assaulted the victim multiple times throughout the night while not letting her leave the residence or call for help. 

“What happened to the victim in this case is a horrific tragedy,” said Solicitor Adams. “I’m pleased that the jury responded to the facts of this case and returned a guilty verdict delivering justice to the victim. Thanks to their verdict and the hard work of law enforcement, this defendant will now be sent to state prison where he won’t be able to hurt another woman.”

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