10th Circuit Solicitor

January 9, 2009
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(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
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(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
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(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
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(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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October 8, 2008

(Anderson, SC) Jerry Duane Conwell, 42, of Anderson, SC, was sentenced today after pleading guilty on Monday to 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 1st Degree, Lewd Act upon a Child, and Exposure of Private Parts in Anderson General Sessions Court. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Conwell to 40 years in prison. 

Over a period of 8 months during 2007, Conwell molested the daughter of a relative while living in their home. The victim was 7 years old at the time of the incidents. 

“The defendant in this case is the worst kind of predator,” said Solicitor Adams. “His actions are horrific and thankfully he will have four decades to think about his crime.” 

(Anderson, SC) 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams announced today that a guilty verdict had been reached in the murder trial of Sammy Scott age 19. The defendant was charged with murder, 4 counts of assault and battery with intent to kill and 5 counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The charges stem from an incident on 7/10/2006 in a Publix parking lot that resulted in the shooting death of 15 year old victim Javaris Clinkscales. Mr. Scott fired a shotgun multiple times into a crowd killing the victim and wounding four others. The defendant’s sister was subsequently charged with accessory after the fact and his mother was charged with obstruction of justice. The defendant presented no witnesses during the four day trial. 



After approximately an hour and a half of deliberations, the jury delivered a verdict of guilty on all 10 counts. The defendant received a sentence of 55 years on the murder charge, 5 years on each count of weapon possession and 20 years on each of the assault charges. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 



“I want to thank law enforcement, Assistant Solicitor Catherine Huey, Judge Buddy Nicholson and the men and women of the jury for their work on this case,” said Solicitor Adams. “Today’s verdict shows that this community will not tolerate anyone including our younger citizens using guns and committing violent crimes. One teenager lost their life because of these actions and another will now spend 55 years in prison. Let’s hope that others will learn from this verdict and think twice before picking up a gun.” 



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(Anderson, SC) James Junior Wright pled guilty this week to 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor 1st degree involving girls ages 8 and 9. One charge originated in Anderson County and the other occurred in Oconee County, however, the defendant agreed to a change in venue to handle both charges in Anderson. 



The defendant was sentenced by Judge. J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson to 20 years suspended on the service of 12 years and 5 years of probation to follow. He will be required to register as a sex offender and have no contact with the girls after his release. The grandmother of the victims spoke on their behalf and asked the judge to keep the defendant in jail until the girls had completed their high school educations making them adults. 



“Those who prey on the innocence of children are the lowest form of criminal,” said Solicitor Adams. “Mr. Wright’s conviction will keep him away from his victims for the rest of his life and behind bars where he belongs for more than a decade. Nothing can undo what he did to those girls but hopefully with this decision the healing process can begin.” 



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(Walhalla, SC) 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams announced a guilty plea today
in the case against Roy Adger Blackwell. After jury selection had been
completed, Mr. Blackwell pled guilty to criminal domestic violence of a high and
aggravated nature and to spousal sexual battery today before Judge McMahon.
Mr. Blackwell beat his wife in their home and sexually assaulted her on February
12, 2008. The Blackwell’s 14 month son witnessed the attack. Mr. Blackwell
received the maximum sentence of 10 years on both charges, and Judge
McMahon ordered the sentences served consecutively. Mr. Blackwell will also
be placed on the sex offender registry and DNA database for the spousal sexual
battery.
“Domestic violence is a serious problem across South Carolina,” said Solicitor
Adams. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases and I am
pleased that today’s guilty plea resulted in the maximum sentence and will keep
a violent man behind bars for the next twenty years.”
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10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams announced today convictions in two separate drug trafficking cases. “The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and Narcotics Division did an excellent job in getting the evidence needed to secure these convictions,” said Solicitor Adams. “Our staff fought hard for tough sentences and thanks to their efforts these drug dealers will be off the streets.” 

Patrick Miller pled guilty on 7/29/2008 to trafficking cocaine and possession of a stolen vehicle. Miller was stopped on I-85 on 3/25/2008 by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office while driving a stolen 2007 H2 Hummer. During the traffic stop, Miller was found to be in possession of trafficking weight powder cocaine. He received a 10 year sentence on each count, to be served concurrently.

Waymond Moore pled guilty on 7/30/2008 to trafficking crack cocaine. On 11/16/2007, the Oconee County Narcotics Division went to Moore’s residence to serve drug warrants and subsequently executed a search warrant which revealed Moore to be in possession of trafficking level weight crack cocaine. His conviction resulted in a 15 year prison sentence.