Suspect changes mind on plea
AIKEN — A 22-year-old Aiken man agreed to plead guilty to killing an 81-year-old man, then changed his mind when he found out he would have to spend 10 more years in prison than he expected.
The Aiken Standard reports Chad Williams came to court Thursday and pleaded guilty to murder and armed robbery in the May 2007 death of his neighbor Hubert Ellis.
But when Judge Jack Early told Williams the plea deal meant he would spend 30 years in prison for murder, then an additional 10 years for armed robbery, Williams balked. He said he didn't want the sentences to be consecutive.
Early then refused to accept the plea and wouldn't let Williams' attorney try to change his mind.
Williams will now stand trial starting Monday.
Chemical leak closes 3 schools
ROEBUCK — A chemical leak at a plant near Spartanburg has caused three schools to close, but no injuries have been reported.
Authorities said styrene leaked from a container at the Hexion Specialty Chemicals plant around 6 a.m. Friday, causing a strong odor. Styrene is a solvent and inhaling its vapors can cause headaches and dizziness.
No one was evacuated, but as a precaution, Spartanburg School District 6 decided to close Roebuck Elementary and Dorman High schools and its freshman campus.
Plant officials said the leak has been contained and the wind is expected to dissipate the chemical.
DNA testing leads to arrest in slaying
SPARTANBURG — Authorities say DNA testing on blood from a killing eight years ago has led to the arrest of a 38-year-old Greenville man.
U.S. Marshals arrested Frederick Eugene Johnson on Thursday after police matched Johnson's DNA to blood collected when 29-year-old Iris Rhinehart was stabbed to death in June 2000.
Spartanburg Police Capt. Randy Hardy told The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg there was no DNA match when the blood was originally tested in 2000. He said the science has improved, and the database of samples has expanded in recent years.
Johnson is in the Spartanburg County jail awaiting a bond hearing. Jail officials said they don't know if Johnson has an attorney.
Clemson receives $2 million gift
CLEMSON — Clemson University has received a $2 million gift to help create a new academic program and expand one of the school's stadiums.
The school announced the gift by retired Equifax Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Chapman on Friday. Now a resident of Atlanta, Chapman was a student athlete at Clemson and received an athletic scholarship.
School officials said $1 million will be used to support a leadership program in the College of Business and Behavioral Science. The remaining money will be used to add 1,000 seats to Doug Kingsmore baseball stadium.
2 charged in love triangle slaying
GREENVILLE — Authorities say a Greenville couple placed trash bags containing severed hands and feet in front of two houses to threaten a woman who previously had a romantic relationship with the pair.
The Greenville News reports that Clarence and Carman Jenkins appeared in court Wednesday to face murder charges in the death of a 34-year-old prostitute. Mekole Harris' body has not been found, but blood spatter found in the couple's home matched the woman's DNA.
Investigators testified Wednesday that Clarence and Carman Jenkins were involved in a "three-way love relationship" with a woman they hoped to frighten into paying them $10,000.
Ex-Scout leader gets 25 years
COLUMBIA — A judge sentenced a former Boy Scout leader to 25 years in prison for molesting a boy in his troop while the boy's father was deployed in Afghanistan.
Fifty-year-old Russell Spitzer admitted molesting the boy in summer 2007 in the boy's Elgin home.
Spitzer pleaded guilty to four crimes against a minor — committing a lewd act, criminal solicitation, disseminating obscene material and contributing to the delinquency.
Blaze damages Horry fire station
MYRTLE BEACH — Horry County firefighters have put out a blaze at a familiar address — one of their own fire stations.
Authorities say someone walking by the station on state Highway 905 reported the fire around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Horry County Fire Rescue spokesman Todd Cartner says the station's firefighters are volunteers, and no one was inside at the time.
Investigators are trying to determine what started the fire.
Shooting death appears accidental
BEREA — Greenville County deputies said an 18-year-old man accidentally shot and killed his stepfather while learning how to use a handgun.
Authorities said 38-year-old Jonathan Riggins Sr. was shot once in the face Tuesday evening in the basement of his Berea home.
Investigators said Riggins was teaching his stepson about guns when the weapon fired.
Deputies said the shooting is still being investigated but appears to be an accident.
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