After a trial in Lexington County this week, sex offender William Derek Bennon, age 47, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison. The trial began August 5 and concluded August 8 when the jury returned a guilty verdict on both charges. Bennon received a sentence of 21 years, concurrent,Continue Reading
Richland County Sheriff’s Department has fired one of its deputies after he was caught in a sting operation. The sting was targeting child sex predators and people looking to buy sex resulting in arrest warrants being issued for 28 people, including Derek Vandenham a now former deputy who was onContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – A rising junior at White Knoll High school has been charged after he made an online threat to shoot up his school and kill himself. Lexington County investigators interviewed the male suspect, whose name will not be released because he’s under the age of 17, Monday afternoonContinue Reading
Harold Greg Heath, age 58 of Lexington has been arrested for the armed robbery of the Sunoco gas station on the evening July 29. Around 7:40 pm, officers were dispatched to the Sunoco at 5019 Augusta Road in Lexington for an armed robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived,Continue Reading
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the motorcyclist who died as a result of a collision with an 18-wheeler. The collision occurred on the Lake Murray Dam (S.C. Hwy 6) shortly before 9 pm July 29. John William Bafford III, 32, of Gilbert was pronounced dead at the sceneContinue Reading
Lexington County deputies have arrested a man in connection to a motor vehicle theft with a child inside. Roberto Lee Herrera, 39, was apprehended after deputies located him driving a vehicle reported stolen at the intersection of Platt Springs and Ramblin Road in West Columbia. “Deputies responded to a call shortly afterContinue Reading
Lexington County deputies have charged a Lexington woman and a minor in connection with a shooting Wednesday night in Gilbert. Brandi Ann Strawderman, 20, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants. The minor is charged with attempted murder andContinue Reading
Joseph Edward Swearingen, III, a 24 year old Lexington County man, pled guilty July 23 to Felony Driving Under the Influence with Great Bodily Injury and Possession of Cocaine – Second Offense. Swearingen received the maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years on the Felony DUI charge followed by four (4)Continue Reading
John Bradley, Flotilla Commander, Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake Murray, holds a membership growth certificate presented to him July 13, at Coast Guard Station Charleston. The award recognizes Bradley’s contributions to the growth of Auxiliary membership. It was presented by Commodore Gary Barth (left), on behalf of the Seventh Coast GuardContinue Reading
A law enforcement bike run was held July 13 starting in the Community Park of Irmo which involved several agencies from around the midlands. Lexington County, City of Columbia, City of West Columbia and Irmo police departments all joined in as part of the Share the Road/Give Me 3 programContinue Reading
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. In January of 2018, the Richland County Sheriff’s Deptartment (RCSD) became the first sheriff’s office, nationwide, to add the words PEACE OFFICER to several of its marked patrol vehicles, ultimately its entire fleet of more than 600 marked vehicles. RCSD was selected along with theContinue Reading