10th Circuit Solicitor

Delbert W. Williams, 21, of Anderson County has pleaded guilty to Burglary 2d Degree in Anderson General Sessions Court. The Honorable J.C. Nicholson sentenced Williams to 13 years in prison. Williams will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

On September 5, 2007, Williams broke into a residence located on Old Denver School Road in Anderson and stole 3 firearms. Fingerprints found at the scene led to the arrest of Williams. 

Rodney Thompson, 37, pled guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter today in the November 4th, 2006, death of Carmencita Turman. The Honorable J.C. Nicholson sentenced Thompson to 25 years. 

Thompson and Turman lived together at 407 Buena Vista Drive where the incident occurred. On November 4, 2006, police and EMS arrived to find Ms. Turman unresponsive. She was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Thompson gave a statement to police admitting to assaulting Ms. Turman with his fists after the two got into an argument. 

Thomas Butler, 21, of Honea Path, SC, pled guilty in Anderson General Sessions Court today to Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Ronald Noest on July 29, 2006. The Honorable J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Butler to 25 years. Under current South Carolina law, Butler will not be eligible for parole.

Butler shot Noest during an argument and then took his body to a wooded area off Broadway Lake Road in Anderson County. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Butler the following day.

Timothy Lamar Wallace was found guilty this week by an Oconee County jury of Trafficking Cocaine, over 400 grams. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Wallace to 25 years.

Mr. Wallace and a passenger were both arrested as the result of an I85 traffic stop during which the drugs were discovered.

An Anderson County jury found Johnny Earl Mahaffey guilty of Murder and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Violent Crime for the shooting death of Ryan Cox in August of 2006. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Mahaffey to life in prison plus 5 years for the firearm charge.

Over a period of three days, the prosecution presented testimony from a number of witnesses as well as forensic evidence which linked Mahaffey to the murder. The defense presented no witnesses.

“The evidence in this case clearly showed that Johnny Mahaffey murdered Ryan Cox without provocation. Ryan Cox was a father and a son. He had friends and family who loved him. His death was a senseless act of violence. Nothing the justice system can do to Johnny Mahaffey will bring Ryan back. Hopefully, knowing that Johnny Mahaffey will be in prison for the rest of his life will allow Ryan Cox’s survivors to find some peace.”

Sandricus Airline, 18 years old, pled guilty to two counts of carjacking, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent offense, and burglary 2nd degree. Judge J.C. Nicholson sentenced Airline to twenty [20] years on each of the carjackings and armed robberies; fifteen [15] years on the burglary 2nd degree charge; and, five [5] years each on the weapons charges, with all sentences running concurrently. 

The charges stemmed from a carjacking which took place November 3, 2005, in the parking lot of Shadow Creek Apartments; and, a carjacking which took place August 15, 2006, at Brick City Grill. No one was injured in either carjacking.

Kevin Reese, 19, pled guilty to 3 counts of Armed Robbery, 28 counts of Breaking into Motor Vehicle, 3 counts of Grand Larceny less than $5,000, and 13 counts of Petit Larceny in Anderson General Sessions Court. Reese was sentenced to15 years on the Armed Robberies, 5 years on the Breaking into Motor Vehicles, 5 years on the Grand Larceny, and 30 days suspended on the Petit Larcenies. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Reese and others were responsible for a rash of car break-ins from October of 2006 through January of 2007. He was also involved in the armed robberies of 3 convenience stores in the area of Whitehall Road and Highway 24 of Anderson. Several thousands of dollars of property were taken during the time period, including a firearm which was used in the armed robberies. 

Stephen Casillo, 47, of Townville, SC pled guilty in Anderson County General Sessions Court before the Honorable Cordell Maddox. Judge Maddox sentenced Casillo to 20 years in prison for a spree of armed robberies he had committed between November 10, 2005, and March 6, 2006.

During the robberies, Casillo used a handmade “gun” that appeared to witnesses to be a small shotgun. Aside from the use of a gun, Casillo also used what appeared to be bombs to scare witnesses into giving up their money and to keep them from calling the police. Casillo managed to evade capture until he robbed Lakeside ABC Party Shop on Hwy 24 for a second time. Following a police chase, Casillo was arrested at his home in Townville. The defendant subsequently gave statements admitting to the charges.

Twenty-two year old Spencer Leverette of Anderson, SC, pleaded guilty to Attempted Armed Robbery and Accessory after the Fact to a Felony in Anderson General Sessions Court this week. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Leverette to 20 years suspended to 13 years with 5 years probation on the Attempted Armed Robbery and 15 years suspended to 13 years with 5 years probation on the Accessory charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

During the attempted robbery of the McDuffie Street Clean-up Shop in Anderson in November of 2005, the owner, Willie Paul Peterson, fired at the intruders, fatally wounding 20-year-old Keena McAdams. Mr. Peterson died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Michael McAdams pled guilty to Attempted Armed Robbery and Voluntary Manslaughter and received 22 years on each count. Marcus Dontabius Webb also pled guilty to Accessory after the Fact to a Felony and received 6 years. Mr. Webb had given statements indicating that he was the driver of the getaway car and had cooperated fully with the authorities. 

Thomas Ray Osborne, Jr. 21, of Anderson, SC, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for charges originating from a crime spree which began in August of 2005 and ended with his arrest in May of 2006. Osborne was charged with multiple counts of Burglary, Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, Armed Robbery, and Assaults. 

The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson presided.

“We were very pleased with the sentence imposed in this case. The residents of Anderson County won’t have to worry about Mr. Osborne for many years to come.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.