Solicitor seeking death penalty against men accused of killing deputy
By Andy Paras
WALTERBORO — Two men accused of killing Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton during a burglary last August will face the death penalty if convicted, the Fourteenth Circuit solicitor said Monday.
Previous story
2 charged in deputy's death, published 9/9/2008
Solicitor Isaac McDuffie "Duffie" Stone III said he is pursuing the death penalty against Travis Javon Harris, 20 and Jacoby Fields, 19. Harris and Fields are both charged with murder, second-degree burglary involving violence and four counts of first-degree burglary.
Authorities say the Harris and Fields were burglarizing a house at 699 Sunflower Drive near Smoaks on Aug. 6 when Compton responded to a tripped alarm. Compton was shot in the front yard.
Stone said the slaying meets two of the criteria required to pursue the death penalty: the victim was a police officer and it happened during the commission of another crime.
Harris, who told The Post and Courier last year that he did not pull the trigger and "he was at the wrong place at the wrong time", pleaded not guilty Monday.
Read more details in Tuesday's editions of The Post and Courier.
Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or aparas@postandcourier.com
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
deftec (anonymous) says...
time to man up
July 27, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JDHawg (anonymous) says...
It will be another 15 to 20 before the death sentence is carried out.
July 27, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
CAN I PULL THE SWITCH?
July 27, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EleanorSargentTucker (anonymous) says...
Why do they do that, JD? If you sentence someone to die, why waste the taxpayer's dollars for such a long time before they carry out the sentence? Is it some part of the law that I don't know about? Or is it because generally lawyers, etc., appeal for so many years?
July 27, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deftec (anonymous) says...
mainly appeals i think
July 27, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpokenTruth (anonymous) says...
Typical case....Preliminary hearing=1-2 months....Actual trial date 2-3 years...Actual length of trial 2-3 months. Possible Adjournments, 1-2 months worth...Sentencing maybe 2 weeks. Appeals, maybe 2-5 over fifteen years (sometimes longer and more appeals appeals appeals = longer life). Just a waste of tax payer dollars and they wander why the court system is backed up! But then again I guess that's the right to have due process! I guess if I would exercise this right if the state was considering putting me to death. Why not, if you know you can get away with it especially if the state and federal government doesn't bother to change this.
July 27, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EleanorSargentTucker (anonymous) says...
Yeah, and I guess the state would want to be extra-sure that the person was actually guilty. I've heard a lot of "horror stories" (probably none of which are actually true) about people who spend 30 years in prison for crimes they didn't actually commit, etc.
July 27, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kingjackabobo (anonymous) says...
Eleanor? Who names a kid Eleanor? LOL
Apparently you don't watch Dallas DNA. People are realeased all the time for crimes the did not commit.
July 27, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deputy216 (anonymous) says...
This story conjures up bad memories for me; on the first of September 1978 I lost my partner to a dirt bag. Deputy Jesse Tanner was attempting to serve a warrant in the southern part of Houston county Georgia. Jesse was able to wound Melvin Lemley who left the scene and drove to Milledgeville to seek treatment and was captured by Baldwin County S.O., and was driven back to Houston County to stand trial. The sad part is the jury thought that the death penalty was cruel and unusual treatment and was given a life sentence and eligible for parole after seven years. My prayers go out to the family and the department during this trying time. I hope he gets what he deserves.
July 27, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
Eleanor---there are many documented case of people on death row cleared recently by DNA. Also many men have been cleared of rape after conviction by DNA---Think of how many innocent men were executed for rape when it was a death penalty crime before the advent of DNA.
Remember you can release the innocent if imprisoned but you cannot bring the executed innocent back to life.
also you can see from peoples comments the founding fathers knew peoples emotions and hearts. that is why we have a prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments
July 27, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cc (anonymous) says...
My letter to the victim....
Dennis/ DJ SPIKEY D/ S535,
All we have left to hold onto are the memories that we shared with you here on Earth. I am glad I had the opportunity of having you as a friend. You were always a phone call away anytime I needed you. I have never had the opportunity to sing "Picture" with someone who performed just as well as Kid Rock did on the original! Your voice was phenomenal. I will never forget how excited you were the night that you told me you were going to have the opportunity to work at CCSO. You were always smiling but this time the smile was bigger. Im thankful for the times that we were able to share together and it is unfortunate that those times had to end so suddenly.
WE MISS YOU DENNIS!
~ Jessica/ Fancy/ T525
Jessica, T525
Friend, Former CCSO Dispatcher
July 27, 2009 at 11:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Shared
- Missing woman's fiance found dead in his home
- Isle of Palms wants to patch beach
- Local woman pleads guilty in tax fraud case
- Foxes' field of dreams: Ashley Ridge's award-winning athletic fields a labor of love
- Local homeowners seek foreclosure relief
- Sullivan's man seeks all school records
- Veterans Job Fair set for Feb. 22 in North Charleston
- Mom charged in baby's choking
- Boeing powering up first local jet
- S.C. to get nearly $34 million in mortgage deal
