For the first time in years, the Dillon County criminal docket has fewer than 500 pending indictments.  The current total of 493 pending indictments comes after last week’s term of court that disposed of 182.
“Our responsibility as prosecutors is first to do justice, in whatever form that may be,” said Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel.  “Secondly, the Supreme Court in Columbia judges us by our numbers.  With the help of law enforcement, judges, the public defender’s office, the defense bar and our court staff, we have been able to significantly reduce our docket and lead the circuit.
“Having fewer cases on the docket allows us to get to newer cases sooner, which is good for everyone – defendants, victims and law enforcement,” Daniel continued.  “Right now, our docket numbers are among the best in the state, but we will continue to improve.”
The South Carolina Supreme Court has set a benchmark that each county dispose of at least 80% of its cases within one year of the date of arrest.  Dillon County is currently above 80%, which exceeds the goal and ranks it better than the large majority of other counties in the state.
Court Administration, the agency in Columbia that coordinates all court and assigns court terms, has given Dillon County fewer terms of court in 2016 than in previous years, thereby reducing the opportunities to move cases.  Despite that, Dillon has still managed to significantly reduce its caseload.
Last week, with Circuit Judge Roger Henderson presiding, 182 indictments were moved.  The main case set for trial last week was Harold Brown, who pled guilty just before the jury was drawn to criminal sexual conduct with a minor and received a 15 year sentence (The Herald published a detailed article about this case in last Thursday’s edition.).
The following are some others who pled guilty last week:  Jonathan Fletcher (burglary/larceny), William Simmons (drugs), Jasamine Mitchell (failure to stop for blue light), Derek Jones (contributing to the delinquency of a minor), Michael Boatwright (drugs), Ronnie Odom (drugs), Ashley Campbell (drugs), Christopher Summerford (drugs), Lacedric McDougal (drugs), Jonathan Vanhorn (failure to stop for blue light), Sharon Mason (cruelty to children), Johnny Dotson (robbery), Terry Morrison (drugs), David Jones (drugs), Gregory Malena (drugs), Wade Dixon (drugs), Alex Bethea (drugs), Derrick Davis (burglary/larceny), Timothy Sellers (drugs), Jasmine Santos (domestic violence), Michael Johnson (assault and battery), Dsandria McCollum (larceny), Taylor Hopkin (larceny), Kristin Tart (drugs), Burney Rogers (domestic violence), Eric Faircloth (domestic violence), Jeremy Buie (illegal possession of firearm), Steven Page (assault and battery), Johnathan Woodell (domestic violence), Jerell Reaves (illegal possession of firearm), Larry Colvin (domestic violence), Delwynn Johnson (shoplifting), Eric Leslie (domestic violence), Andrea Blount (domestic violence), George Crawford (domestic violence), Kelly Barfield (assault and battery), David Domingo (DUI/DUS), Waco Locklear (illegal possession of firearm/drugs), Anthony David (domestic violence), Tavon Primer (domestic violence), Montreal Grissett (malicious injury to property), Eric Woods (domestic violence/assault and battery), Tyquan Bellamy (resisting arrest), Christopher English (fraudulent checks), and Donte Jones (domestic violence).
The next term of General Sessions Court is May 31, 2016.