OUTCOME: Pled Guilty to Felony DUI with Death and received a 18 year sentence in jail.
The crash happened at about 12:15 a.m. at the intersection of Old Hills Bridge Road and Cross Anchor Road on June 6, 2021. A teenager, later identified as Zailyn Cade Jackson, 15, of Enoree, was stand...ing outside of a disabled vehicle on Old Hills Bridge Road when he was hit by Collins’ 2012 Dodge Ram truck. Jackson died at the scene.
Collins was taken to the hospital where blood and urine tests revealed the presence of methamphetamine in his system. Collins also admitted to consuming methamphetamine while South Carolina Highway Patrol investigators after the crash.
Weblink: https://www.wyff4.com/article/dui-crash-teen-killed-south-carolina/40850120#:~:text=Travis%20Neil%20Collins%2C%2035%2C%20pleaded,he%20is%20eligible%20for%20release.
Violent crime
State v. Tony Michael Smith
Jul 21, 2022
OUTCOME: pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 3 counts of attempted murder, 2 counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. and received fifteen (15) year sentence.
On Nov. 6, 2021, Spartanburg police responded to 911 calls about 9
p.m. in reference to stabbings that occurred on North Forest Street and the QT
convenience store on West Main Street. At the North F...orest Street location, police found a 56-year-old man bleeding from a cut wound to the left side of his face. The assault victim described Smith’s outfit in detail and told police that Smith fled toward West Main Street. During their investigation, police learned Smith cut a 58-year-old man with a knife before fleeing the area.
Smith then walked to the QT store and cut a 27-year-old man in the neck while he stood outside of his tuck at a gas pump. Police arrested Smith in the convenience store parking lot.
Police used witness statements and security video from the convenience store to
connect Smith to the crime scenes. Weblink: https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article263721373.html
Violent crime
State v Jerry Cecil Edwards
Jun 14, 2022
OUTCOME: After a two-day jury trial, Jerry Cecil Edwards, 63, was found guilty of kidnapping and carjacking sentenced to life in prison without parole by Judge R. Lawton McIntosh under the two strike state law
on June 11, 2019, which started in the parking lot of the Quik Trip, on West Main Street, in Spartanburg. Edwards approached the woman at about 1 a.m. and asked for a ride to Walmart. The woman told h...im the store was closed but offered to give him a ride to wherever he needed to go.
Edwards directed the woman to drive to Clinton Street where he demanded money and took her car keys. Edwards threatened to hit her on the head with a brick unless she undressed and climbed into the trunk of the car. The woman did what she was told, and Edwards drove her car to Short Allen Street. When the car stopped, the woman pulled the trunk release, escaped from the vehicle, and ran to a nearby home for help while Edwards drove off. police arrested Edwards hours later in Greenville with the woman’s car in his possession. Police also found her purse, cell phone and credit cards with Edwards. The woman testified during the trial and quickly identified Edwards as her attacker. Solicitor Barry Barnette used surveillance video from the convenience store, law enforcement testimony, witness testimony and pictures to connect Edwards to the crime. "This situation could have been a lot worse if the courageous woman had not run for help when she did," Barnette said. He said her actions saved her life. Edwards' criminal record includes convictions for first-degree burglary, 3 counts of attempted kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, strong-arm robbery, 3 counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature.
Weblink: https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-man-sentence-life-kidnapping-carjacking/40290688
Violent crime
State v. Aaron D. McCullough
Mar 15, 2022
OUTCOME: Pled guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree burglary, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and received 30 year sentence in jail
The attack occurred May 8, 2020, at the Main Street Motel, 700 W. Main St., Barnette said. A woman told police McCullough broke a window to enter her room about 4 a.m. and threatened her with a knife ...that he stuck in the wall near the bed, Solicitor Barry
Barnette said. The victim described the sexual assault in detail during a police interview, Barnette said. The victim was beaten during the attack and she had numerous bruises on her, Barnette said. She identified McCullough in a photo line-up and police used DNA evidence to further confirm McCullough’s identity, Barnette said.
Weblink: https://www.wyff4.com/article/welford-man-receives-30-year-prison-sentence-violent-sexual-assault/39443646
Violent crime
State v. Jerry Bernard Whisonant
Mar 01, 2022
OUTCOME: Pled Guilty to CSC charges and received a twenty (20) year jail sentence followed by a consecutive sentence of fifteen (15) years sus to five (5) years of probation
Whisonant was arrested by the Blacksburg Police Department in October of 2020 following an investigation after the victim’s mother turned over videos she found on Whisonant’s cellphone of him performin...g sexual acts toward the victim. Whisonant pleaded guilty to two counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct and eight counts of criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree. Judge Cole imposed the negotiated 20-year sentence. Whisonant will not receive credit for the time spent behind bars since his October 2020 arrest. Whisonant will serve 85% of Judge Cole’s sentence before he is eligible for release, followed by five years of probation. Probation violations could result in an additional 15 years behind bars. Upon his release from jail, Whisonant
could be subject to the sexually violent predator act, a program which determines if sex offenders have such a mental abnormality disorder that they need to be confined in a treatment program. “With this sentence, he won’t be out of jail while the victim is still a child,” said Solicitor Barry Barnette who prosecuted the case.
Weblink: https://www.gaffneyledger.com/articles/man-sentenced-to-20-years-on-criminal-sexual-conduct-charge/#google_vignette
Violent crime
State v, Casey Schinestuhl
Nov 04, 2021
OUTCOME: Schinestuhl plead guilty to Hit and Run with Deatn and received a sentence of 15 years sus to 8 years in jail followed by 5 years of probation from Judge Grace Knie
On April 16, 2021, Casey Schinestuhl hit Elijah Major as he was walking on Sha Lane to go to work at the Holiday Inn Express on Highway 221-Interstate 85 intersection at Exit 78 in Spartanburg County. ... The crash happened at about 5:40 a.m. when Major was hit by Schinestuhl’s black Nissan while he walked on the shoulder of the road toward Highway 221. Major died at the scene.
Major’s family said he was walking to work at the Holiday Inn when the crash occurred. He walked to get in shape to join the military in the future.
Schinestuhl drove away from the crash and filed a report with the Highway Patrol claiming to be the victim of a hit-and-run on Interstate 85, Schinestuhl posted photos of her wrecked car on Facebook in the hours following the collision. The post read, “I’m okay ya’ll, My first accident ever. A 18 wheeler hit me this morning and Sally is now on her way to the body shop to see if she’s fixable or if we get her totaled.” SCHP patrol investigators used security video from a nearby business and debris found at the scene to determine the black Nissan was responsible for the wreck. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the Hit and Run. Schinestuhl turned herself into the sheriff’s office on April 17. She also gave a statement admitting to the crimes. Weblink: https://www.wyff4.com/article/woman-spartanburg-hit-and-run-teen-killed/38164463
Violent crime
State v. Willie Tommie Smith
Jul 27, 2021
OUTCOME: Pled Guilty to Murder and received 40 year sentence
William Tommie Smith, 66, interrupted his jury trial to plead guilty to murder. Smith killed Brenda Kay Tanner, 55, on Dec. 2, 2018 at Smith’s Waters Road home. Tanner died of 9-10 blows to
the head.
...
Smith called 911 to report the crime. Smith admitted to smoking crack cocaine during the 911 telephone call and he told the operator he would turn himself in. Smith turned himself into the Spartanburg County jail that same day. When deputies visited Smith’s house, they found Tanner in a bedroom with electrical cord wrapped around her neck 3 times and tied in several knots. The baseball bat was on the bed beside her body. Please see: https://apnews.com/article/crime-south-carolina-spartanburg-87ae3267c016e112f3ab3ca7af93569f
Violent crime
State v. Tremaine Johnson and State v. Robert Gentry
Jun 17, 2021
OUTCOME: Trial- Johnson Guilty of Murder- Life Sentence; Gentry- Guilty of Accessory before and after the fact of Murder
Tremaine Pierre Johnson, 27, was found guilty of murdering Brechue (“Bre”) Wiles, 23. Johnson shot Wiles to death on May 9, 2018. The victim was in the early stages of pregnancy when she was killed. ...Wiles’ family reported her missing to the Sheriff’s Office on May 11, 2018. She was last seen leaving her aunt’s Fernwood-Glendale Road apartment home two days earlier.
Wiles told family she was going to visit Johnson and discuss her pregnancy. In her last communication with family, Wiles reported she and Johnson were at a park sitting by the water.
Two walkers noticed Wiles’ body in the lake during a morning walk at Duncan Park near the intersection of West Park and Carolyn Drives. Wiles’ body was recovered the same morning she was reported missing by her family.
An autopsy revealed that Wiles sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her head.
Gentry, 27, of Spartanburg, stood trial with Johnson. He was convicted of accessory before the fact of a felony and accessory after the fact of a felony. Gentry provided Johnson the murder weapon, a .40 caliber handgun. Gentry had telephone and text communication with Johnson before and after the murder. Gentry also used his telephone to research how to report a gun stolen.
Please see: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2021/06/18/spartanburg-sc-man-sentenced-life-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-body-found-duncan-park-brechue-wiles/7743842002/
DUI and DWI
State v. Michael Travis Worthy
Nov 03, 2020
OUTCOME: Pled Guilty to Felony DUI (Death) and Felony DUI (GBI) and received a 20 year sentence
Michael Travis Worthy, 32, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with
death and felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury.
Caleb Fant, 18, died due to injuries sustai...ned in the Oct. 14, 2019 on South Pine Street near the Forest Avenue intersection. Caleb’s brother, Emmanuel, sustained a broken leg, a broken wrist and a head injury in the wreck.
The Fant brothers were standing in the road tending to disabled 2003 Nissan Pathfinder when it was struck in the rear by a 2011 Nissan Altima driven by Worthy. The collision threw Emmanuel off the right side of the road and Caleb was thrown into the other southbound lane of traffic. A third vehicle hit Caleb. Caleb died at Spartanburg Medical Center a short time later.
Worthy’s blood alcohol level was .317 in a test conducted after the wreck. During the investigation, it was discovered the Pathfinder had its emergency flashers activated when the wreck occurred. Spartanburg police also determined that Worthy had a 2,175 foot-sight line to see the disabled car while he approached.
Worthy’s prior criminal record includes a conviction for driving under the influence. Please see: https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/man-who-was-driving-drunk-in-crash-that-killed-spartanburg-teen-is-sentenced-to-prison/article_646c0c86-1e1e-11eb-9f7a-c7d82edff970.html
Violent crime
State v. Marcus Pack Mareno
Feb 04, 2020
OUTCOME: Pled Guilty on all charges-given 10 year sentence in jail on Att. Murder x 2; RA (Assualt); 5 years- MIPP more 2000 x 2; 3 years on FTS; 30 days- MIPP less than 2000 (all concurrent) and 10 years on each A&B 1st suspended to 5 years probation consecutive.
On October 15, 2018 , SCHP troopers tried to stop Marcus Pack Mareno who was driving recklessly on Interstate 85 shortly after 11 p.m. When the vehicle did not stop, troopers began a chase. During ...the chase, Moreno’s vehicle swerved into one trooper’s vehicle before stopping and backing into another trooper’s vehicle on SC-329. Moreno ran from his vehicle before struggling with troopers and CCSO deputies as they tried to arrest him. During the struggle, Moreno stabbed Lance Cpl. P.M. Wilkins in the shoulder, according to the report. Wilkins was taken to the Hospital in Gaffney with non life-threatening injuries and was later released from the hospital. Moreno also damaged 2 vehicles on I-85 as well as both of the troopers vehicles.
