James Robert Peterson, 37, of Prosperity, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Columbia on a firearm possession charge. According to the indictment, Peterson, a convicted felon, was found with a gun on June 11 during an incident where he allegedly shot and killed South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) K9 Agent Coba while officers attempted to arrest him.
Peterson faces multiple related charges in state court and could receive up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. He is currently being held in custody while awaiting trial.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national program focused on reducing gun violence and violent crime by connecting law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The initiative emphasizes building trust, supporting violence prevention groups, enforcing the law strategically, and tracking results.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs emphasized that charges are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
