10th Circuit Solicitor

Leonel Penaloza pled guilty today in Anderson County General Sessions Court before the Honorable John C. Hayes. Penaloza received 25 years for Trafficking Cocaine in excess of 400 grams and 25 years for Trafficking Methamphetamines in excess of 400 grams. The sentences are to be served concurrently and are non-parolable. 

Penaloza was arrested following an I-85 traffic stop on October 20, 2006 in Anderson County. Anderson County Sheriff’s officers located a hidden compartment in the gas tank of Penaloza’s vehicle. Hidden inside the gas tank the officers found approximately 20 pounds of cocaine and one pound of methamphetamine. 

“Drug smugglers are constantly looking for new ways to get drugs into communities and into the hands of buyers. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is to be commended for preventing this from happening in this case. Their diligence and work helped my office to prepare an excellent case against Mr. Penaloza. Hopefully, this will prove to be a deterrent to others attempting to bring drugs into our communities. Keeping our communities and our children safe is always a top priority.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

Forty-seven year old Charles Vergie Williams, formerly of Seneca, SC, was found guilty by an Oconee County jury today in General Sessions Court of 3 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd Degree and 3 counts of Lewd Act on a Minor. The charges originate from incidents which occurred between 1992 and 1994 while the victim was 14-16 years of age. 

The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Williams to 20 years on each of the 3 Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 2nd Degree charges and 15 years on 2 counts of Lewd Act on a Minor with the sentences to run concurrently. Also, on the third count of Lewd Act on a Minor, Judge Macaulay sentenced Williams to 15 years suspended on 5 years (prison time) with 5 years probation to follow. This sentence is to be served consecutively to the other 5 sentences. Williams will be placed on the sex offender registry and the central child abuse registry. 

Williams was charged in 1997 and later fled the state. He was extradited from New York in 2005 and returned to Oconee County for prosecution.

Howard B. Thompson, III, was found guilty today in Anderson County General Sessions Court of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, First Degree. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Thompson to the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Thompson will be on the Central Child Abuse Registry for SC as well as the Sex Offender Registry. 

“We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict and the Judge’s sentence. Justice was served today in Anderson County.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced 18-year-old Juan Tyree Smith to 30 years today for the murder of 50-year-old Sammy Martin on February 25, 2006. 

The incident happened at the Old School Lounge on West Market Street in Anderson, SC. Following the shooting, Smith fled to Florida where he was arrested on March 17, 2006 and extradited to South Carolina. 

Smith also received a 5 year sentence for the Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Charles Leslie Davis, 36, pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree and Lewd Act on a Minor. The Honorable James Williams sentenced Davis to 15 years suspended on 10 years (prison) with 2 years of community supervision followed by 5 years probation. Davis is also required to be on the Sex Offender registry, Child Abuse registry, and GPS monitoring for life. 

The charges were based on incidents which occurred in Oconee County between August 1st and September 3rd, 2005. 

Michael Millwood, 40, of Greer, SC pled guilty to Murder and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime on April 17, 2007 in Anderson General Sessions Court.

Millwood was charged in the shooting death of Walter Glenn Fowler on December 19th of 2005. Fowler had been shot twice in the back at his home on Hampton Road in Anderson County. 

The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Millwood to 30 years for Murder and 5 years for the weapons charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Michael Gilliam, 46, pled guilty on April 12, 2007 to Burglary 1st Degree, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime, Grand Larceny, Armed Robbery, and Assault with Intent to Kill. The charges arose from two separate incidents occurring in 2006.

On August 26, 2006 Gilliam robbed the Pelzer Point Shell station in West Pelzer with what appeared to be a pistol. Witnesses identified Gilliam’s vehicle which the Anderson County Sheriff’s office later located. A small gray homemade pistol-like object was found on the front seat of the vehicle. Gilliam gave a voluntary statement admitting to the robbery.

On October 24, 2006, Gilliam broke into a residence in Piedmont, SC taking items valued in excess of $1000, including a pistol. After being confronted by the homeowner, Gilliam fled into a wooded area near the residence where he was located by Anderson County deputies. Although Gilliam fired at the responding officer, no one was injured during the arrest.

The Honorable James Williams sentenced Gilliam to 19 years for the Burglary 1st Degree; 19 years for the Armed Robbery; 10 years for the Assault with Intent to Kill; 5 years for the Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime; and 5 years for the Grand Larceny. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Forty-nine year old Larry Dean Swofford of Anderson SC pled guilty to Armed Robbery and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime in Anderson General Sessions Court on April 10, 2007.

On May 15, 2006, Swofford entered a convenience store in Anderson armed with a knife and demanded money. He left the store with approximately $400.00. He was later apprehended at his home by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable James Williams sentenced Swofford to 15 years for the Armed Robbery and 5 years for the weapons charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Paris Crosby, 19, of Anderson, SC pled guilty in Anderson General Sessions Court on April 18, 2007 to charges based on an incident in October of 2005. Crosby and his codefendant, Jasmin Sanchez were charged with kidnapping an individual that they had met on the internet and lured to their home in Anderson. The victim was assaulted with a crowbar, tied up and robbed before being bound and placed back in his own car wrapped in a blanket. The victim was stabbed twice in the neck by Crosby while being taken to a wooded area outside of Belton. The perpetrators then left the victim there, taking his vehicle. Crosby and Sanchez were apprehended on their way back to Anderson. The victim crawled to the road and was found by people driving by.

The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Crosby to 20 years for Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill; 20 years for Armed Robbery; 10 years for Grand Larceny and 5 years for Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The sentences are to be served concurrently. 

On April 10, 2007, Juan Mendez pled guilty in Anderson General Sessions Court to several charges, including Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill, Armed Robbery, and Burglary. Mendez was charged in April of 2006 following a 4-day crime spree during which time he burglarized one home, assaulted one person with a knife, and finally stabbed another person, stealing her purse and her car. 

The Honorable James Williams sentenced Mendez to 20 years on each of two counts of Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill; 20 years on Armed Robbery; 20 years on Burglary; 10 years on Grand Larceny; and 5 years on the weapons charge. These sentences are to be served concurrently.