Over 50 guns and numerous boxes of ammunition were stolen Friday night from a major Laurens County wilderness shop.
Lawson's Outfitters on Highway 76 in Laurens County in the Upstate of South Carolina has been burglarized 3 times within the past month. Friday night was the first time the robbers got away with merchandise, however.
Lawson's is a popular outdoor, wilderness, gun, and ammo shop in the Upstate. Customers like the variety one can find by browsing Lawson's considerable collection of handguns, rifles, shotguns, as well as outdoor accessories.
Police say that surveillance video of the burglary gives them a fairly clear picture of the description of the perpetrators, but it was blood left on the scene that investigators say can possibly lead them straight to the criminals.
Store owner Danny Lawson states that in spite of the best video and alarm equipment money can buy, the crooks persisted until they found a glitch in the system.
'I guess I'm going to have to start sleeping up here,' he said.
For a complete video of this news report, click here to go to WSPA News Channel 7.
Showing posts with label Laurens County South Carolina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laurens County South Carolina. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
More On the Ward Sentencing
In a Laurens County courtroom today, former Bell Street Middle School teacher Allenna Williams Ward received 6 years in prison for two counts of second-degree criminal sexual misconduct with a minor, and three counts of performing lewd acts on a minor.
Originally Ward had been charged with crimes that could have carried a life-sentence. The charges were reduced in a plea bargain arrangement where Ward agreed to waive her right to a jury trial and have her case determined by a Judge.
Ward's defense team presented a psychologist who testified that Ward suffers from two serious psychiatric disorders--dependent personality disorder and a sexual disorder.
The defendant once again apologized to the young men, their families, and the community.
Her sentence seemed very light to some of those gathered outside the courthouse. When Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace was questoned about the sentence and the charge of racism (Ward is white and her victims are black), Peace quickly stated that the Judge in the case is black--Judge Casey Manning.
Peace also stated that in these types of cases that are pleaded out, a sentence of 3 to 8 years is normal and 6 falls within the normal range.
Ms. Ward will have to serve 85% of her sentence before she is eligible for parole, and she will be housed in a maximum security prison due to the nature of her crimes.
Originally Ward had been charged with crimes that could have carried a life-sentence. The charges were reduced in a plea bargain arrangement where Ward agreed to waive her right to a jury trial and have her case determined by a Judge.
Ward's defense team presented a psychologist who testified that Ward suffers from two serious psychiatric disorders--dependent personality disorder and a sexual disorder.
The defendant once again apologized to the young men, their families, and the community.
Her sentence seemed very light to some of those gathered outside the courthouse. When Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace was questoned about the sentence and the charge of racism (Ward is white and her victims are black), Peace quickly stated that the Judge in the case is black--Judge Casey Manning.
Peace also stated that in these types of cases that are pleaded out, a sentence of 3 to 8 years is normal and 6 falls within the normal range.
Ms. Ward will have to serve 85% of her sentence before she is eligible for parole, and she will be housed in a maximum security prison due to the nature of her crimes.
Friday, June 01, 2007
11-Year-Old Black Boy Scarred For Life
Laurens, SC (TLS). An eleven-year-old African-American boy has been scarred for life in the fallout from a shocking teacher sex case that culminated today in Laurens, South Carolina.
Fifth-grade teacher Wendie Schweikert, a Caucasian, was sentenced to 15 years in prison plus 5 years' probation for engaging in criminal sexual activity with an 11-year-old Black student. The sexual activity took place right in Schweikert's own classroom.
Today during her sentencing a sobbing Schweikert apologized to the boy's family, her students, and the community for what she described as 'committing this horrible sin.' From the start Schweikert acknowledge that she had engaged in sexual activity with the boy and stated today in court that she 'was not herself' when she committed the acts.
The boy's parents spoke at the sentencing hearing today, and stated that their son had been scarred for life by what took place in Schweikert's classroom.
That is an understatement. Parents in this country are entitled to know that when they send their children to the nation's public schools they are not entrusting them into the care of sexual predators. Increasingly, parents have cause to worry. The Schweikert case is only one of many similar cases across the country.
The Judge who handed down Schweikert's sentence did not go easy on her, but neither did he give her the maximum under the law. She will be forced by law to serve 85% of her sentence in incarceration and then serve an extra five years' probation once released. She will also be registered as a sex offender.
We can take consolation in the fact that a sexual predator has been removed from the classroom, but our hearts go out to the victim and his parents who must live with the horror of what took place in that classroom for the rest of their lives.
Fifth-grade teacher Wendie Schweikert, a Caucasian, was sentenced to 15 years in prison plus 5 years' probation for engaging in criminal sexual activity with an 11-year-old Black student. The sexual activity took place right in Schweikert's own classroom.
Today during her sentencing a sobbing Schweikert apologized to the boy's family, her students, and the community for what she described as 'committing this horrible sin.' From the start Schweikert acknowledge that she had engaged in sexual activity with the boy and stated today in court that she 'was not herself' when she committed the acts.
The boy's parents spoke at the sentencing hearing today, and stated that their son had been scarred for life by what took place in Schweikert's classroom.
That is an understatement. Parents in this country are entitled to know that when they send their children to the nation's public schools they are not entrusting them into the care of sexual predators. Increasingly, parents have cause to worry. The Schweikert case is only one of many similar cases across the country.
The Judge who handed down Schweikert's sentence did not go easy on her, but neither did he give her the maximum under the law. She will be forced by law to serve 85% of her sentence in incarceration and then serve an extra five years' probation once released. She will also be registered as a sex offender.
We can take consolation in the fact that a sexual predator has been removed from the classroom, but our hearts go out to the victim and his parents who must live with the horror of what took place in that classroom for the rest of their lives.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Allenna Williams Ward to be Arraigned Today
Clinton, SC (TLS). Allenna Williams Ward, the 24-year-old middle school teacher accused of having sex with five male teenagers, will be arraigned in a Laurens County, SC courtroom today.
Ward will be arraigned on five counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and six counts of performing lewd acts on a minor.
The African-American community in Clinton has claimed racial motivation in Ward's bond and her subsequent release. However, Ward is being held under house arrest with an electronic device that monitors her every move and is allowed only to go to church, the doctor, to court, and to see her attorney.
Similar cases across the country reveal that persons charged with similar offenses are rarely, if ever, held without bond. In addition, Ward's bond was set at a level that rivals that of murderers. Thus, the charge of racism would seem to hold little credence.
Updated information on Ward's court appearance will be provided by The Liberty Sphere later in the day. Be sure to check back for further updates.
Ward will be arraigned on five counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and six counts of performing lewd acts on a minor.
The African-American community in Clinton has claimed racial motivation in Ward's bond and her subsequent release. However, Ward is being held under house arrest with an electronic device that monitors her every move and is allowed only to go to church, the doctor, to court, and to see her attorney.
Similar cases across the country reveal that persons charged with similar offenses are rarely, if ever, held without bond. In addition, Ward's bond was set at a level that rivals that of murderers. Thus, the charge of racism would seem to hold little credence.
Updated information on Ward's court appearance will be provided by The Liberty Sphere later in the day. Be sure to check back for further updates.
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