Another Murderer Caught

 

Seth Hassan Smith, wanted for the April 18th murder of George “Big Feez” Bennett in Charleston, has joined his brother, Bryant Smith, at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center. He was captured in Walterboro by a U.S. Marshals task force.

 

 

 

 

 

Seth Smith is yet another example of how the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and circuit court judges contribute directly to the crime problem in the tri-county area. Smith’s adult criminal history dates back to shortly after he turned 17. Let’s review his criminal history and you will see how a large number of dismissed charges, questionable plea deals and soft sentences kept Smith on the street long enough to commit murder.

 

1997 Charges:

Possession of a Stolen Vehicle - Plead guilty. Sentenced by Judge Daniel Martin to a YOA term not to exceed 3 years, suspended in favor of shock incarceration.

Note: This charge was included in a plea deal with charges from 1998.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1998 Charges:

Distribution of Cocaine - Plead guilty. Sentenced to the same YOA term suspended in favor of shock incarceration as mentioned above. Concurrent, of course.

Distribution of Cocaine Near a School - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

Distribution of Cocaine - Plead guilty. Same sentence as above, concurrent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000 Charges:

Failure to Stop for Blue Light - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor even though he failed to appear for a hearing and a bench warrant had to be issued.

Pointing and Presenting a Firearm - Plead guilty. Sentenced by Judge Victor Rawl to 5 years, suspended in favor of 18 months probation to begin at the end of the previous YOA term.

Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

Unlawful Possession of a Pistol - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001 Charges - included in plea deal with 2000 charges:

Resisting Arrest - Plead guilty. Sentenced 1 years, suspended in favor of 18 months probation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2003 Charges:

Failure to Stop for Blue Light - Plead guilty. Sentenced by Judge Thomas “Felon’s Friend” Hughston to 3 years.

PWID Marijuana - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

PWID Cocaine - Plead guilty. Sentenced to 3 years, concurrent, of course.

PWID Cocaine Near a School -Plead guilty. Sentenced to 3 years, concurrent.

Resisting Arrest - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

Trafficking Cocaine - Plead guilty. Sentenced to 3 years, concurrent.

PWID Near a School - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

PWID Marijuana - Plead guilty.  3 years, concurrent.

PWID Crack Cocaine - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Charges:

2nd (or more) offense of Possession of Marijuana - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Charges:

2nd Offense Possession of Marijuana - Dismissed when the officer failed to show up at the preliminary hearing.

Possession of Contraband in County Prison - Dismissed for the same reason as above.

3rd Offense Possession of Marijuana - Dismissed for the same reason as above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 Charges:

PWID Marijuana - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

PWID Narcotics - Plead guilty. Sentenced by Judge Roger Young to 5 years, suspended after 22 months, then 6 months probation.

Unlawful Possession of a Pistol - Plead guilty. Same sentence as above, concurrent.

Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

Note: Smith’s conviction for Trafficking Cocaine is a permanent bar to firearms possession or ownership under South Carolina law and federal law.

Criminal Domestic Violence High and Aggravated - Plead guilty. Sentenced by Judge R. Markley Dennis to 90 days.

1st Degree Assault With Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct - Dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

 

 

 

 

 

To summarize, here you have a violent drug dealing repeat offender who seems to catch a lot of breaks from what some are claiming is a racist and cop friendly 9th Circuit Solicitor. Smith also has seven gun charges on his adult history. Five of those charges were dismissed by the 9th Circuit Solicitor.

 

Just in case you were wondering, the last few cases we have looked at have brought our 9th Circuit Solicitor gun charge tally to:

 

104 charges     50 dismissed     24 guilty pleas     30 pending