Crime spree brings 35 years in prison
A man who confessed to a four-county crime spree that included shooting a companion in the head and leaving her body to be run over on a North Charleston railroad track was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday.
Warsop
Dale Warsop's guilty plea to 14 criminal offenses led to a sentence of less than life behind bars. Otherwise, Warsop, 31, could have clogged courts from Charleston to Lancaster County if he sought multiple trials, largely for armed robbery cases.
Warsop expressed remorse for murdering Margaret Christene Molina, a 31-year-old Oregon women, in September 2007.
According to a confession given after his arrest, he lured the crack-addicted woman out to the tracks and shot her because he was afraid she might tell authorities about his crimes. Also, he said he wanted to put her our of her misery because she could not stop smoking crack.
Molina's body eventually was struck by a passenger train traveling near North Charleston's Ferndale neighborhood.
Previous story
Woman found on tracks is mourned; Mother, sister fly in from Oregon, describe outgoing person they loved deeply, published 09/28/07
"I'm sorry, but I know that's not enough," Warsop said in court Thursday, expressing his regret. "God knows what I've done."
Warsop was arrested in Charleston on Sept. 7, 2007, the day Molina's body was found on the tracks, after he'd robbed a Sam Rittenberg Boulevard Radio Shack. He confessed to 14 crimes that ranged from shaking his infant child to business or convenience store holdups or attempts in Lancaster, York, Berkeley and Charleston counties. Warsop's charges were so numerous that Circuit Judge Thomas Hughston had to shuffle various documents on the courtroom bench to read them all.
"I've got to make some room here," he said at one point during the plea hearing.
Public Defender Ashley Pennington said Warsop, most recently from Kershaw County, came from a troubled background that included an alcoholic and bipolar mother who was abusive.
Warsop tried to live a clean family life, but it fell apart after he lost his job, leading to the crime wave, he said. Molina was someone he'd met and traveled with to Charleston.
Warsop's sentence totaled 35 years behind bars, plus 10 years that was suspended to five years of probation.
Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
sig (anonymous) says...
Why is this scumbag still alive? What about the girls family? They have to live with the fact that they will never see her again.
He blamed it on his Mom and the fact that he came from a troubled background that included an alcoholic and bipolar mother who was abusive.
What a bunch of bull! I know many folks who had abusive parents and are law abiding taxpaying citizens. He will be walking the streets in a few years because of the great South Carolina judicial system!
December 19, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Grinder (anonymous) says...
Sig, I give the guy a little credit - a very little - for owning up to his sins. The public defender - not this scumbag - went the only route he could by playing the abused-as-a-child card... Has that EVER worked? Don't get me wrong, he definitely needs to be in prison the rest of his life, and if the system releases him prematurely, I can only hope that he visits those who make that possible.
December 19, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_it_a_rest (anonymous) says...
Only 35 years for murder, child abuse and 12 other crimes.This is a damn shame.
December 19, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
It does seem short. On the other hand, while he is away, he will lose his youth and some of his best possible years.
December 19, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JLWDALFAN (anonymous) says...
35 YEARS FOR MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES. THIS SENTENCE IS A CRIME ITSELF. HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE DEATH PENALTY OR AT THE LEAST LIFE W/NO PAROLE. HE KILLED HER TO PUT HER OUT OF HER MISERY, WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? GOD? WHY DIDN'T THIS HAVE A JURY TRIAL? THIS STINKS! I HOPE YOU GET YOUR DUE IN PRISON YOU FREAK!
December 19, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JLWDALFAN (anonymous) says...
THERONCE, I FEEL SO SO SORRY FOR HIM LOSING HIS YOUTH IN PRISON, AT LEAST HE IS ALIVE. CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR THE YOUNG LADY HE MURDERED. YES HE MURDERED HER IN COLD BLOOD.
I WILL ONLY BE SORRY IF HE GETS OUT OF PRISON
December 19, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
And this is justice? You intentionally kill someone in cold blood and you only get 35 years in prison? Can't wait to see what the next murderer gets who commits such a series of crimes. In another article some guy just got life for selling drugs. Which is the more heinous crime?
December 19, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
Is it just me or does this guy look... subnormal? I'm serious. If beauty is destiny as some believe, his outlook is pretty grim.
I grew up poor (when your mom puts clothes on layaway at Family Dollar, that's poor!)in a hardscrabble rural area. Classmates laughed at me for wearing rubber boots when I had no shoes. I still remember the first time I ate a can of Campbell's soup. I was 13.
Thirty-five years later I have a college degree and a great life. I've never done drugs, let alone kill anybody. A harsh childhood is no excuse. Who hasn't faced adversity? Get over it; you don't deserve a get-out-of-jail-free card.
December 19, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
This guy gets 35 years for all of those crimes and our posters are over there complaining about Dot Scott and the Black Santa.
December 19, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
time4change (anonymous) says...
they should burn that whiite dog smelling scumbag!!!! he deserves to die with his inconsiderate white ''a''
December 19, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
He really should not be charged with murder. After all, he was just trying to put the poor girl out of her misery, what with her being a doper and all.
Now hopefully, in the interest of fairness maybe some caring lifer will extend the same courtesy to him when his life in prison becomes unbearable.
December 19, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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