10th Circuit Solicitor

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.

An Oconee County jury took less than three hours to find Randy Frady guilty of Murder for the deaths of his father, James C. Frady, Jr., and brother, Barry Frady in Walhalla, SC on September 22, 2004. 

Frady was also charged with Arson 2nd Degree, Burglary 1st Degree and Grand Larceny for events surrounding the murder of his father and brother. 

Judge Perry Buckner, Chief Administrative Judge for the 14th Circuit, sentenced Frady to Life without Parole for each of the murders, 30 years for the Burglary 1st Degree, 25 years for the Arson 2nd Degree, and 5 years for the Grand Larceny. All sentences are to run concurrently.

“Our hearts go out to Jim and Blackie Frady. This was a horrible tragedy for their family. However, justice was served with the jury’s verdict today and Randy Frady will have the rest of his life to think about what he did.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams. 

An Anderson County jury found Larry D. Evans guilty of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle today in Anderson General Sessions Court. The Honorable J. C. “Buddy” Nicholson sentenced Evans to 10 years, the maximum penalty allowed for this crime. Evans was sentenced under an “enhancement” statute due to his prior extensive criminal record dating back to 1983.

On May 28, 2005, Evans was identified as operating a 1987 Dodge Dakota truck which had been stolen on May 25, 2005 from the Advance Auto parking lot on South Main Street in Anderson. He was arrested in Abbeville County on June 13, 2005 while driving the truck. 

“We were very pleased with the jury’s verdict and with the maximum sentence handed down by Judge Nicholson. The Anderson County Sheriff’s office worked tremendously hard on this case and we were able to present ample evidence for the jury to render its guilty verdict.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

Jesse Newton pled guilty today in Anderson County General Sessions Court to the charge of Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Harold Bridges on February 3, 2004 in Anderson County. Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox sentenced Newton to 30 years in prison. 

Newton had corresponded with Bridges on the internet. Bridges went to Newton’s house with regard to their chat room conversation. As Bridges arrived on the front porch, Newton loaded a rifle and exited the home through the back door. He then proceeded around the house, shooting Bridges from approximately 36 feet away. Forty-eight year old Bridges died at the scene.

Because he was only 15 at the time of the incident, Newton was originally charged as a juvenile. However, after a full waiver hearing in juvenile court, Judge Barry W. Knobel transferred jurisdiction of the case to the Court of General Sessions. While being housed at the Department of Juvenile Justice (prior to his 17th birthday), Newton’s records indicate that he had 51 referrals for behavioral problems, mostly assaults on peers and staff. Newton was transferred to the Anderson County Detention Center after his 17th birthday. 

“My staff and I will continue to hold juveniles who commit adult crimes fully responsible for their actions. We hope this sentence will allow the family members of Mr. Bridges to feel some closure to this terrible tragedy. They have our deepest sympathies.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

Twenty-six year old Iona Goss of Anderson, SC pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to the charge of Unlawful Neglect of a Child. Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox sentenced Goss to a term of 8 years suspended to 6 years in prison to be followed by 3 years probation. Goss was also ordered to undergo addiction treatment while incarcerated.

On July 31, 2005, Iona Goss gave birth to a stillborn child at AnMed Hospital. Goss gave a statement in which she admitted using alcohol and smoking crack approximately two hours before giving birth. She also admitted using crack on and off throughout her entire pregnancy. SLED toxicology indicated the defendant had a .015 blood alcohol level and cocaine in her system at the time of delivery. The baby had a .058 blood alcohol level and also tested positive for cocaine. The baby was polydactyl and also had skull and brain deformities. The defendant had previously given birth to a child in 2003 while in drug rehab in Charleston. 

“We are very pleased with the prison term handed down by the Honorable Cordell Maddox. This is a tragic case that resulted in the loss of an innocent child’s life. I can only hope that this sentence sends the message that we will not tolerate women who abuse alcohol and drugs during their pregnancy. We will continue to fight for the maximum sentence allowed by law.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.

On July 13, 2006, an Anderson County jury deliberated for two and a half hours before convicting the Defendant, Michael Gibert of three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the Second Degree, one count of Lewd Act Upon a Minor under the age of Sixteen, one count of Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of Assault with Intent to Kill. Pursuant to 17-25-45, the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office served the Defendant with Notice of Intent to Seek Life without the Possibility of Parole on all the counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the Second Degree, due to his prior convictions for Armed Robbery and Kidnapping. The Honorable Steven John presided. Judge John determined that based on his prior convictions, the Defendant qualified for the life sentence under the “three strikes and you’re out law.” Judge John further sentenced the Defendant to the maximum fifteen years on the count of Lewd Act upon a Minor, the maximum three years for the count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and the maximum ten years for the count of Assault with Intent to Kill. All charges except the Assault with Intent to Kill were against the same minor victim and occurred between April of 2004 and April of 2005. As the minor victim was being taken into emergency protective custody by Department of Social Services worker, Michelle Love, the Defendant was following her in his car and attempted to run her off the road in order to thwart her efforts to protect the minor child. 

“We are extremely pleased with the jury’s verdict. We will continue to seek the maximum punishment allowed for offenders who continue to violate the laws of our State and endanger the welfare of our citizens, especially our youth.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.