Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

Dad of boy who killed brother pleads guilty

The father of a 13-year-old Kershaw County boy who fatally shot his 10-year-old brother in the family home pleaded guilty Monday to a federal gun charge.

Gary Travis Roberts, 45, of Cassatt pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He was prohibited from having the weapon, a .22-caliber pump-action rifle, and the ammunition because of a 1991 state conviction for involuntary manslaughter.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Perry Jr. will sentence Roberts at a later date.

The 13-year-old, who is not identified because he is a juvenile, shot his brother, Gayloyd Roberts, during an argument March 2 over a spot to watch TV. He died later at a hospital.

• Homemade weapon linked to prison killing

Investigators have found a home-made weapon they believe was used to stab a prison inmate to death Saturday afternoon in Columbia.

The State Law Enforcement Division had not arrested anyone Monday afternoon in the case, but was continuing to investigate the killing of Clifford Haltiwanger. Haltiwanger had served three years of a 30-year sentence for trafficking methamphetamines. Initial reports indicate he was attacked by at least one inmate, possibly more, about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re still trying to gather information and talk to any witnesses, if there were witnesses,’’ SLED spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said. “It’s difficult sometimes to get information within the prison system itself.’’

Timmons said SLED could not give more details on the weapon investigators think was used to kill Haltiwanger.

As of midday Monday, Broad River Correctional Institution remained on lockdown, meaning prisoners were restricted to their cells only, the state Department of Corrections reported. The prison has 1,557 inmates.

• Ex-teacher charged with exposing himself

KINGSTREE — A former teacher has been charged with exposing himself to a high school student and showing him pornography.

The (Florence) Morning News reported Monday that David Tisdale had been released on bail. The Williamsburg County School District said Tisdale was placed on administrative leave in April and was fired earlier this month.

The student is now a young adult and told police he was visiting Kingstree Elementary School were Tisdale worked years ago when the teacher exposed himself. He also said Tisdale showed him pornography.

Attempts to reach Tisdale Monday were unsuccessful.

• Mom charged after dog chews off baby’s toes

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Authorities say they are charging a North Carolina woman who slept as a pit bull chewed the toes off her 4-month-old baby’s left foot.

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office said Monday the child’s mother, Robie Lynn Jenkins, and her boyfriend, Tremayne Spillman, will be charged with felony child abuse.

Deputies said the couple were dog-sitting the 1-year-old pit bull for a friend who had been arrested on gun charges.

Officials said Jenkins told investigators she was on medication and didn’t hear the child crying as the two slept in the same room Sunday night. She said she didn’t notice the injury until she changed the baby’s diaper Monday morning.

• Man dies after losing control of car on ramp

Authorities are investigating the death of a West Columbia man who died in a one-car accident Sunday night on an Interstate 26 access ramp.

Blake C. Tuggle, 18, was killed after his 1991 Honda slid off the wet highway, crashed into woods and struck two trees about 9:50 p.m., according to the Lexington County coroner’s office. Tuggle lost control of the car and died at the scene, the coroner’s office said. The coroner’s office said Tuggle was alone in the car, which was traveling at a high speed. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Both the coroner’s office and the S.C. Highway Patrol are investigating

• Man gets 3 years in jail for S.C. to N.Y. gun deals

A Lamar man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in an illegal gun-running scheme between South Carolina and New York.

Jose Manuel Shannon, 26, recruited and paid eight people from Bishopville and Lamar to buy guns illegally from pawn shops, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia.

Guns bought in South Carolina were sold in New York, federal prosecutors said.

Some 53 guns were purchased illegally in South Carolina. Those buying the guns filled out forms saying they were the true purchasers, when they were actually doing so for Shannon, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Shannon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally buy firearms from licensed dealers and traffic the guns to New York. The illegal activity occurred from January 2004 to July 2006, authorities said.

Contributing: Staff writer Sammy Fretwell; staff reports; The Associated Press

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