10th Circuit Solicitor

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.

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.