10th Circuit Solicitor

Fernando Montes-Saenz was convicted today in Oconee County General Sessions Court for Trafficking Cocaine in Excess of 400 grams. Circuit Judge Howard King sentenced Montes-Saenz to 30 years, the maximum allowed by SC law.

On February 13, 2006, the defendant was stopped on I-85 in Oconee County for Speeding and Improper Lane Travel. After a brief discussion with the defendant, an officer with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office conducted an outer search of the vehicle with a drug dog. The dog alerted on a hidden compartment under the back seat of the Volkswagen Passat. The compartment held 30 bricks of cocaine weighing 29,823 grams with a street value of almost $3,000,000. 

“This verdict and sentence shows that law enforcement and the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office are actively engaged in the fight to curb drug trafficking through the upstate of SC. I-85 has become heavily used by drug traffickers through Oconee and Anderson County. Law enforcement in both counties has provided excellent coverage of this area as well as outstanding investigative work in addressing this problem. My office will continue to seek stiff penalties for those who attempt to bring drugs into and through Oconee and Anderson Counties. We are very pleased with the sentence in this case.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

An Anderson County jury found April McCullough not guilty for the Murder of Scotty Fowler on February 5, 2005. 

“We respect the jury’s verdict. This was an extremely difficult case and we appreciate the effort and time that they put forth to reach a verdict. The sheriff’s department did a thorough investigation in this case and there was ample evidence and probable cause to present the case to a jury. This was obviously not a clear-cut case of self-defense, which is evident by the length of time the jury deliberated. 

Domestic violence was an issue throughout this case despite the fact that no prior domestic incidents were ever reported to the Sheriff’s department, social workers, or hospitals. We encourage all victims to contact law enforcement BEFORE violence within the home escalates to such a tragic level. The Sheriff’s office and the Solicitor’s office are dedicated to protecting true victims of domestic violence and we will continue to prosecute cases based on the facts in evidence.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

James Williams pled guilty on October 18,2006 before the Honorable Paul M. Burch to the charge of Murder and Grand Larceny. Judge Burch sentenced Williams to 30 years on the Murder charge and 10 years on the Grand Larceny charge to run concurrently.

On or about December 24, 2005, Anderson County deputies responded to a missing person report for Mary Ann Williams, age 65, of Moss Oak Drive, Anderson, SC. Officers found Ms. Williams in her home already deceased. The cause of death was asphyxiation. The defendant, Ms. Williams’ son, surrendered to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office on December 28, 2006 at which time he made a full confession. Mr. Williams stated that he was under the influence of crack cocaine when he murdered his mother. 

Elliott Lawton pled guilty in Anderson County General Sessions Court today to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, First Degree. The offense took place in November of 2005. The Honorable Paul Burch sentenced Lawton to 15 years in prison. Lawton will be required to register as a sex offender.

Lawton confessed to sexually abusing an eight-year old child who was in his custody. His common-law wife, Carolyn Kinman Lawton, is charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child i

An Anderson County jury deliberated less than two hours before delivering a guilty verdict in the State vs. Lillian Sims case today in Anderson General Sessions Court. Sims was charged with Homicide by Child Abuse or Neglect in relation to the death of six-month old Shaquala Mance on March 27, 2005. 

Lillian Sims had been a foster parent to the child for approximately two months prior to the child’s death. On March 27, 2005, EMS responded to 123 Compton Drive in Anderson in reference to the infant who was found to be in cardiac arrest. Dr. Brett Woodard, who performed the autopsy, stated that the cause of death was malignant cerebral edema due to blunt force trauma. Sims, the primary caregiver was subsequently charged with Homicide by Child Abuse or Neglect. 

The Honorable Perry Buckner sentenced Sims to 20 years suspended to 15 years prison time with 3 years probation to follow. 

“The majority of children who suffer from abuse or neglect cannot speak for themselves. When this happens, it is up to the justice system to speak for them. The jury, by their verdict, did just that for Shaquala.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

The Honorable J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced David Christopher Ellenburg to 10 years suspended to 4 years prison time plus 5 years probation for 4 charges of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. Ellenburg pled guilty in Oconee County General Sessions Court in July but Judge Nicholson deferred sentencing until a mental evaluation could be done to determine if Ellenburg should be placed on the sexual offender registry. Based on findings from that evaluation, Judge Nicholson ordered that Ellenburg register as a sex offender and receive sex offender treatment, either while incarcerated or when released on probation. Ellenburg was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with any child 16 years of age or younger and to be on electronic monitoring and house arrest for the first six months after his release.

Clifford Michael Baker pled guilty today in Oconee County General Sessions Court to Murder for the death of 4-year-old Billy Henry in 2004. The Honorable John Few sentenced Baker to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Joyce Veal, the mother of Billy Henry, also pled guilty to Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child with respect to Billy Henry’s death. Judge Few sentenced Veal to 10 years suspended to 6 years prison time and 3 years probation.

John Paul Woodard pled guilty yesterday in Anderson General Sessions Court (to Oconee County Charges) before the Honorable J. C. Nicholson to a string of burglaries during the period of May – August 2005. Breaking into homes, mainly stealing firearms along with other property, some of the burglaries occurred at homes he had been in while working for a local cleaning service. He received a 20 year sentence suspended to 15 years active sentence in prison with no parole eligibility and 5 yrs probation and restitution to all victims. 

Denisona Crisp pled guilty to Murder and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime today in Anderson County General Sessions Court before the Honorable J. C. Nicholson. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder and five (5) years for the weapons charge. 

In 2001, the defendant was sentenced to death based on the murders of Jeolani Blackwell and Clarence Watson. On January 24, 2005, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Clarence Watson’s murder based on the inappropriate colloquy between the Judge and the defendant during the guilty plea. Upon review of the evidence, re-interviewing all prospective witnesses and lengthy evaluation of the substantially limited forensic evidence, Solicitor Adams determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed in an actual capital trial. The lapse in times since the incident has limited the witnesses’ abilities to recall events and to testify in a consistent manner. 

After a 4 day trial, Leroy Archie, age 56, was convicted of murder and the possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime by an Anderson County jury. The Honorable Alexander S. Macaulay sentenced Archie to life without the possibility of parole. 

On August 22, 2005, Archie shot and killed Cathy Galloway in the front yard of the home they shared at 119 Scott Circle in Pendleton, SC. Archie and Ms. Galloway were in the process of separating after approximately 18 years of living together. Several witnesses, including a law enforcement officer, testified that they saw Archie with a gun standing above Ms. Galloway as he fired the last of three shots while she was lying on her back. 

Assistant Solicitor Scott McElhannon sought life without parole on Archie based on his 1987 conviction for Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill when he shot his former wife in the arm. Archie had also been previously convicted of stabbing Cathy Galloway in 2002. 

“The jury’s verdict in this case is evidence that domestic violence will not be tolerated in the 10th Circuit.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.