Thursday, Aug. 06, 2009

Sentencing postponed in juvenile shooting

CAMDEN — A Kershaw County Family Court judge this morning postponed sentencing for a Cassatt teen who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his 10-year-old brother earlier this year.

Gayloyd Roberts was shot in the face with a .22-caliber rifle during an argument March 2 with his then-13-year-old brother at their home, Kershaw County Sheriff’s deputies said. The boys and their 15-year-old half-sister were home because school was canceled after forecasters called for a snow storm that never occurred, deputies said.

The older boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, pleaded guilty May 20 to voluntary manslaughter. Family Court Judge Dana Morris on Wednesday postponed sentencing indefinitely, saying he had questions about a pre-sentencing report prepared by state Department of Juvenile Justice staff members and wanted to hear their testimony.

Under state law, the boy could be sentenced to a juvenile prison until he is 21.

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