10th Circuit Solicitor

The trial for Randall “Randy” Simpson was set to begin today, but instead, the defendant pled guilty in Anderson General Sessions Court to charges of Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Attempted Armed Robbery.  The Honorable R. Scott Sprouse sentenced Simpson to a total of 50 years active jail time.  Simpson received 30 years for Murder, and 20 years for Voluntary Manslaughter, which are to be served concurrently, and 15 years for Attempted Armed Robbery and 5 years for Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, which will be served consecutively.  Special Prosecutor Lucas Marchant, with the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office represented the State.

On January 9, 2016, around 12:30 AM at Pierce Road and Amy Road in Iva, Justin Ray Williams was the victim of an Attempted Robbery perpetrated by Casey Waddell, Tabitha Roberts, Brandon Davis, Wesley Malmister and Randy Simpson.  Roberts, Waddell, Simpson and Malmister had discussed robbing Mr. Williams of drugs they believed were in his possession.  Waddell directed Roberts to call the victim and set up a purchase of methamphetamine at the victim’s residence where they then proceeded, all armed with various firearms.  Along the way, they picked up Brandon Davis.  Davis also armed himself with a firearm.  When they reached Williams’ residence, Roberts got out of the vehicle and went inside the trailer to ensure that he was alone. Waddell, Malmister, Davis and Simpson all exited the vehicle and proceeded to the victim’s home.  While armed with an assault rifle, Waddell jerked the door open, moved past Roberts and demanded that Williams “give it up”.  Williams was armed with a handgun and fired one shot striking Waddell in the head resulting in his death.  Randall Simpson then approached and entered the residence and shot Williams 5 times, with some of the shots penetrating his heart and lungs. He died as a result of those injuries. Roberts, Malmister and Simpson all fled the scene.  Davis ran into the woods and was picked up at a later time.  Following the investigation of this incident by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Roberts, Davis and Malmister gave full confessions to the investigating officer and the Solicitor’s Office. 

Roberts, Davis and Malmister all entered guilty pleas on April 25, 2017, to two counts of voluntary manslaughter and one count of Attempted Armed Robbery, and will be sentenced at a later date.   

Following the plea, Solicitor David Wagner said, “Two lives were senselessly lost because of drug addiction and greed. This sentence sends the right message to would-be violent criminals in Anderson County: You will be found, aggressively prosecuted and may spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Anderson, SC –  Tabitha Roberts, Brandon Davis, and Wesley Malmister each pled guilty on April 25, 2017 to two counts of Voluntary Manslaughter and one count of Attempted Armed Robbery for an incident that took place in January of 2016. Justin Ray Williams, the intended victim of the armed robbery, and Casey Waddell, one of the participants in the crime, were both killed during the robbery attempt. Judge Donald Hocker accepted the guilty pleas and deferred sentencing on all charges against these defendants. Charges are still pending against Randy Simpson. The State was represented by special prosecutor Lucas Marchant.

Walhalla, SC – Adam Richardson Martin pled guilty on February 10, 2017 in Oconee General Sessions Court to charges from both Oconee and Anderson Counties. The Honorable Scott Sprouse sentenced Martin to 25 years suspended to service of 15 years followed by 5 years of probation for 2 counts of Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Kidnapping for the Oconee County charges. On the Anderson County charges he was sentenced to 3 years for failure to stop for a blue light and 10 years for discharging a firearm into a vehicle. 

In March of 2015, a couple living in West Union, SC contacted Martin, who had previously done work for them, to do yard work. When he arrived he told them he needed to speak to them inside. Once inside, Martin told them that they were good people and that he was unstable. The Defendant then pulled out a gun.  He demanded cash and jewelry, following the victims around the house at gunpoint.  Martin then fled the home.  Law enforcement was called and responded immediately. The victims identified Martin through a photo array lineup. 

The Defendant was subsequently spotted by law enforcement in Anderson County.  He was chased through Anderson, Greenville and Laurens counties by law enforcement where speeds reached over 100 miles per hour. While in Anderson County on Interstate 85, Martin shot at other vehicles and continued to evade law enforcement.  Martin was eventually captured in Laurens County and placed under arrest facing multiple charges there as well. He was sentenced in 2016 for the offenses committed in Laurens County and only recently returned to Oconee County to face charges. 

“Through Adam Martin’s criminal and reckless behavior, he endangered many lives in March 2015.  It is nothing short of a miracle that no lives were lost.  Today’s plea adequately punishes the Defendant and gives the victims in this crime the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” stated Solicitor David Wagner. 

Anderson, SC – Yesterday, a jury was out for less than half an hour in the case of the State vs. Phillip Walker for the armed robbery of the Family Dollar Store on E. River Street in Anderson in December of 2015. Walker was out of jail on bond and did not appear for trial. The sentence is sealed until Walker has been apprehended. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Mr. Phillip Walker, please contact the Anderson Police Department at 864-260-4444. 

On December 16, 2015, Phillip Walker approached the register at the Family Dollar Store to purchase some items using his EBT card. Walker then asked for some cigarettes and after the clerk returned to the register with them, the defendant presented a handgun and told the clerk to give him the money from the register. The clerk complied and Walker exited the store. Once the defendant was outside, the clerk pressed the panic button and the Anderson Police Department responded within minutes. A description of the defendant was disseminated to law enforcement and a search began of the area. Thinking that something strange was going on, a witness who worked in a building close to the Family Dollar had made a photo on her phone of a man walking down the street taking off his jacket and hat and tossing them in the dumpster a short distance from the store. The defendant was arrested shortly thereafter. Walker confessed to the crime in a video interview with law enforcement. Walker had previous robbery convictions in North Carolina.  

“Once Mr. Walker has been located and arrested, the sentence of the court will be unsealed,” stated Assistant Solicitor Catherine Huey. “We will all feel much safer once he has been apprehended.”  

     Phillip Wesley Walker

Anderson, SC – On the day before jury selection was scheduled to begin, 63 year old Jasper Ashley pled guilty to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Ashley to 15 years suspended to 10 years in prison with 5 years of probation to follow.  

In May of 2015, Belton police officers were called to a residence for a complaint that a 9 year old female had reported having been sexually assaulted. The child was interviewed at Foothills Child Advocacy Center where she stated that the defendant had performed oral sex on her on several occasions between March 2014 and April 2015 when the child was between 8 and 9 years old. A warrant was subsequently issued and the defendant was arrested on May 24, 2015. 

“No one should be forced or intimidated into performing or having sexual acts performed on them, but it is especially egregious when the victim is a child,” stated Assistant Solicitor Kristin Reeves. “This young lady has been truly brave throughout the whole judicial process. Hopefully, knowing Jasper Ashley is in prison and with the continued support of her family and counselors she can now feel the security that children deserve and have the ability to put this in the past.”

Anderson, SC – Yesterday, the Honorable Letitia Verdin sentenced Dennis Dansby Mays to a 12 year active sentence on the charge of Trafficking Methamphetamine. 

On April 24, 2014 members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Team served a search warrant at 2112 West Whitner Street, Mays’ automotive shop, after several weeks of surveillance. While executing the warrant, officers found over a pound and a half of methamphetamine in Mays’ desk drawer. 

“Meth continues to be a major problem in our community,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Much of the crime we see in our office is related to the manufacture, distribution or use of methamphetamine and I’m thankful for the job the Sheriff’s Office did in this case to take another drug dealer off of our streets.” 

Anderson, SC – Yesterday, the Honorable Letitia Verdin sentenced Dennis Dansby Mays to a 12 year active sentence on the charge of Trafficking Methamphetamine. 

On April 24, 2014 members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Team served a search warrant at 2112 West Whitner Street, Mays’ automotive shop, after several weeks of surveillance. While executing the warrant, officers found over a pound and a half of methamphetamine in Mays’ desk drawer. 

“Meth continues to be a major problem in our community,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams.  “Much of the crime we see in our office is related to the manufacture, distribution or use of methamphetamine and I’m thankful for the job the Sheriff’s Office did in this case to take another drug dealer off of our streets.”