He plowed his car into a police cruiser and got shot by SC deputies. Now he heads to prison

A Columbia man pleaded guilty to ramming a police cruiser with a car while trying to flee law enforcement in 2016, according to prosecutors.

Samuel Huguenin Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to Lexington County court records. He initially was charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with the 2016 incident.

A judge sentenced Huguenin to 10 years in prison on each of the charges, records show. It was unclear if the sentences will be concurrent or consecutive.

A charge of possession of a weapon during a violent crime was dismissed, court records show.

11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard confirmed the guilty plea and sentencing on Twitter.

Huguenin was hospitalized several months after the May 2016 shooting incident and crash, which happened after deputies tried to serve an arrest warrant on him.

Warrants said Huguenin was fleeing a Saluda County deputy near the 600 block of Old Lexington Road in Lexington County when he pointed and fired a shotgun at the deputy “with malice and intent to kill,” The State reported at the time.

He then drove toward the deputy’s patrol vehicle, increased speed and crashed into the driver’s side door, warrants said.

Huguenin was shot during an ensuing exchange of gunfire with the officers. The deputy who was in the car that was hit was treated for minor injuries, officials said at the time.

This story was originally published March 21, 2019 at 7:49 AM.