Latest news with #8thCircuitSolicitor'sOffice
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Upstate man receives 30 years for statewide burglary spree
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A man was sentenced to three decades in prison Thursday morning in Greenville County on charges stemming from a yearlong statewide crime spree. The 8th Circuit Solicitor's Office announced that 38-year-old Christopher Taylor, of Mauldin, pleaded guilty to charges resulting from almost 40 burglaries in 11 counties and six South Carolina judicial circuits. Officials said the crime spree ranged from July 2021 until Taylor's arrest in June 2022. It was reported that the defendant committed burglaries in Calhoun County, Spartanburg County, Greenwood County, Laurens County, Newberry County, Anderson County, Oconee County, Edgefield County, McCormick County, Greenville County and Pickens County. Investigators said Taylor had committed crimes across multiple counties for close to a year when the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office was able to use FLOCK cameras to track him after a break-in at the Pavan Food Store along Bypass 72. Detectives said when investigators questioned Taylor about the break-in, he confessed. After further questioning regarding other burglaries with similar methods, Taylor also confessed to the other break-ins across the SC counties. Taylor was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his plea. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
SC man convicted for shooting, killing K-9
(WSPA) – A South Carolina man was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to multiple crimes including killing a K-9 officer. According to the 8th Circuit Solicitor's Office, 38-year-old James Robert Peterson, of Newberry County, was sentenced to 33 years in prison for first-degree burglary, three counts of attempted murder, cruelty to a police dog and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. An investigation was initiated in May 2024 when Peterson broke into a residence in the Prosperity community while the homeowner was at work. The homeowner observed Peterson on a Ring camera positioned by the door of the home. The Newberry County Sheriff's Office was able to identify Peterson from his distinctive tattoos and previous experience dealing with the defendant. On June 11, deputies received information that Peterson was at a residence on Gravel Lane in Prosperity. Due to prior knowledge of Peterson resisting arrest, investigators called in the State Law Enforcement Division K-9 Team to assist in serving the warrants. After multiple commands from law enforcement to Peterson to exit the residence, SLED K-9 Officer Coba made entry into the home. K-9 Coba found the suspect inside the residence along with a deputy and SLED agents. Peterson had a shotgun in his left hand and shot K-9 Coba. The officers returned fire, injuring the suspect. K-9 Coba was taken to an emergency veterinarian where he later died. K-9 Coba joined SLED in 2021 and served on SLED's SWAT Team and SLED's K-9 Tracking Team during his career. A judge sentenced Peterson to 28 years in prison on each of the burglary and attempted murder charges and 10 years in prison on the resisting arrest charge, with all those sentences to be served concurrently. At the request of the State, Peterson was then sentenced to five years in prison on the cruelty to a police dog charge which is the current maximum sentence for that charge under SC law. That sentence is also to be served consecutively. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
