11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard

Gang member residing in Lexington County gets 15 years for cocaine trafficking

Reynerio Rafael Romero, Jr., a 27-year-old validated gang member living in Pelion, pled guilty to trafficking cocaine second offense and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge George M. McFaddin, Jr., Wednesday to 15 years in prison. Under South Carolina Law, Trafficking Cocaine Second Offense is classified as a serious, violent offense and “no parole.” In […]

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Lexington County man 20 year sentence for West Columbia child sexual assault

Donnie Rankin, 49, pled guilty in Lexington County this week to two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor – Second Degree.  The Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV, Eleventh Circuit Chief Administrative Judge, sentenced Rankin to the maximum of 20 years in prison. Under South Carolina law, Rankin is not eligible for parole and […]

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West Columbia man sentenced to 25 years for trafficking heroin

Jerome Smith, age 57, has been found guilty of Trafficking Heroin, Distribution of Heroin, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin in Lexington County. Following a bench trial last week before the Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV, Chief Administrative Judge, Smith was sentenced to 25 years for the Trafficking offense, and received concurrent sentences […]

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Lexington Woman shoots and kills her husband, stood to get $500,000 in life insurance, says prosecutor

Kimberly Fletcher Groh, 55, was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison after entering a plea to the 2016 shooting death of her husband, Michael Bryan. Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod IV imposed the sentence following the plea earlier Friday in Lexington County. Under South Carolina law, Groh is not eligible for parole.  11th […]

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Man gets 17 years for burglary of West Columbia riverside home

Darnell Riley, a 68-year-old man, pled guilty recently in Lexington County to First Degree Burglary and Possession of Burglary Tools and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., to 17 years in prison. The burglary charge is classified as a “no parole” and violent, most serious offense under South Carolina law. The […]

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West Columbia double homicide nets life sentence for man following conviction by a Lexington County Jury

Damien Lavar Ritter, a 28-year-old man from Estill, was convicted Monday by a Lexington County jury, after approximately 45 minutes of deliberation. Ritter was convicted for the Murder of Samir Atkins, 26, and Elzie Mack, 41. The jury also returned convictions of Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, and Armed Robbery. The trial began on Monday, with jury […]

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Former Kindergarten Teacher gets 15 years for Sexually Abusing a Child

Hianlucas Isturiz Rodriguez, age 43, pled guilty this week in Lexington County General Sessions Court to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor – Third Degree for sexually abusing a student. Eleventh Circuit Chief Administrative Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV imposed the maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years following the guilty plea. Under South Carolina law, […]

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Man sets woman on fire, sentenced to 70 years in jail

Robert Rome Green, 48, received a sentence of 70 years in prison following a jury trial conviction for Attempted Murder and Arson – First Degree in Lexington County last week. It marked the first jury trial of the year following the court ordered closure of proceedings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All parties adhered to […]

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