(un)Truth in Sentencing

 

Let’s talk about sentencing of convicted criminals in the State of South Carolina. We have shown you over the past few years how much your politicians like to crow about the reduced prison population in the state, both adult and juvenile. They think that is a good thing. They hope you won’t point out the obvious conclusion, which is simply, if criminals are not in jail they are usually out committing more crimes.

Take the case of Keith Alextruss Williams for example. Williams, aka “Keezy Topshotta G” and a member of a local gang known as Town of Lincolnville, was charged with shooting up a Ladson establishment known as “The Game Room” on December 20th, 2012. Williams was initially charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Firearm During a Violent Crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is his initial mugshot.

 

 

 

 

Williams cleaned up a bit for his recent court date. He also seems to have put on a bit of weight since getting shot last year at Black Bike Week in Myrtle Beach.

As you can see from the initial jail record Williams spent just under 13 months in the SACDC with a high bond awaiting trial. He bonded out in February of 2014. He got to spend some of his free time while on bond in Myrtle Beach carrying a gun, getting into fights with rival gang members and getting shot up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After he healed up a bit, Horry County authorities locked him up for Unlawful Possession of a Pistol for that incident at Black Bike Week. He was given a $10,000 bond and released.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bench warrant for failure to appear was issued for Williams on March 30th. He failed to appear in Horry County because he had appeared in court in Charleston County on March 18th. At that appearance, the 9th Circuit Solicitor reduced the Attempted Murder charge to Discharging a Firearm Into a Dwelling and dismissed the weapon possession charge. Judge Deadre Jefferson sentenced Williams to 10 years and he was sent to SCDC on March 19th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you look closely at the record you will see a 10 year sentence in South Carolina is nothing more than a joke. The fact that the 9th Circuit Solicitor reduced the attempted murder charge to a charge not considered a violent offense in South Carolina means Williams has to serve at most 65 percent of his sentence. Giving him credit for the 13 months spent in the county jail means he is eligible for parole in March of 2016 and will max out his 10 year sentence in March of 2019, having served less than half of that 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Someone let the folks in Horry County know where they can find Keith Williams - for a little while, anyway. Maybe they have a sentencing judge who know what the word “consecutive” means. We doubt that will happen given the glee with which lawmakers in South Carolina tell us the prison population is dwindling.