Sumter County deputies charge three men for intimidating a witness in an assault case

Sumter County investigators have charged three men with intimidating a witness in a September assault case, officials said.

Braden Bunch, a sheriff’s office spokesman, said 32-year-old Mark Floyd and his 26-year-old brother Martin Floyd have each been charged with a single count of intimidation of court officials, jurors and witnesses. William Ard, 24, who is connected to the case is also facing a single count of intimidation.

Bunch said Mark Floyd, along with three other men, was charged in September with first-degree assault and battery after they allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old man at a residence in the 7000 block of Connector Road in Pinewood. The men are alleged to have beat the victim about the head and body.

In October, Bunch said following a preliminary hearing for two of the suspects in the case, a witness to the alleged assault said they received a message from Martin Floyd threatening the witness via social media if they were to testify. Floyd allegedly said to the witness that “Things get dangerous when ppl (sic) testifie (sic).”

After being questioned by investigators, Bunch said Martin Floyd admitted to sending the message on behalf of Mark Floyd.

Both of the Floyd men were taken into custody and transported to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center to await a bond hearing for their charges, Bunch said.

Ard, who is also facing a first-degree assault and battery charge, was granted a $5,000 bond for the intimidation charge.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 12:29 PM.