Josh Patterson Hodges, 34, of Darlington, pleaded guilty last week in Lexington County to Attempted Murder. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Attempted Murder is classified as a violent, most serious crime, and a “no parole” offense, according to a release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

While at a residence in Gaston on February 18, the solicitor said, a verbal exchange resulted in Hodges striking a victim on the back of his head with a hammer as the victim was walking away. The victim reported he lost consciousness for a few moments. After regaining consciousness, the victim said he realized Hodges was striking him with a hammer on his head, face, back, and chest areas while he was laying on the ground. Witnesses at the scene corroborated the victim’s account and told law enforcement that Hodges was also kicking the victim in the chest during the attack.

The case was investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. The hammer was recovered at the scene. Hodges was interviewed subsequent to his arrest and confessed to assaulting the victim. Hodges told law enforcement the hammer was right in his face, so he grabbed it. He stated that he “flipped and started hitting him.”

The victim spent several days in the hospital and was treated with a chest tube. As a result of the attack, the victim had a collapsed lung, fractured rib, and scalp and facial lacerations.

Hodges has prior convictions for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, four counts of Burglary Second Degree – Violent, and several property crimes, according to the Solicitor’s Office.