Seventh Circuit Solicitor's Office - Spartanburg County

James Grindle Jr., ofGastonia N.C., received a30-year prison sentence inDecember after a CherokeeCounty jury decided that hesexually assaulted a 4-yearoldboy. Grindle was foundguilty of first-degree criminalsexual conduct with a minor.Assistant Solicitors KimLeskanic and Tony Leibertprosecuted the case.Phillip A. Rhinehart, ofSpartanburg, received a 30-year prison sentence in Mayfor sexually assaulting awoman after he threatenedher with a gun and knife.Rhinehart pleaded guilty tofirst-degree criminal sexualconduct. Assistant SolicitorCindy Crick prosecuted thecase.Keith Drayton, ofSpartanburg, received a lifeprison sentence in Septemberafter a jury decided he heldhis ex-girlfriend against herwill and beat her with a baseballbat. Drayton was foundguilty of kidnapping andcriminal domestic violence ofa high and aggravated nature.Deputy Solicitor DonnieWillingham prosecuted thecase.Sam Stokes, of Spartanburg,received a life prison sentencein August after a jury decidedthat he shot a man to deathduring a home invasion.Stokes was found guilty ofmurder, first-degree burglaryand assault and battery withintent to kill. AssistantSolicitor Bob Coler prosecutedthe case.Harold Greer, of Wellford,received a 30-year prison sentencein May after he admittedto killing his father. Hepleaded guilty to murder.Deputy Solicitor DonnieWillingham and AssistantSolicitor Melissa Millicanprosecuted the case.Paul Mash, of Wellford,received a 75-year prison sentencein July after he admittedto performing sex acts onboys between the ages of 3and 13. Mash pleaded guiltyto five counts of committinga lewd act on a minor. Hewas a registered sex offenderwhen the crimes occurred.Assistant Solicitor SusanReese prosecuted the case.Brian Messer, of Gaffney,received a 12-year prison sentencein April after he admittedto causing an alcoholrelatedwreck that claimedthe life of a passenger. Messerpleaded guilty to felony drivingunder the influence witha death and second-offensedriving under suspension.Principal Deputy SolicitorBarry Barnette prosecutedthe case.Charles Connor, ofMooresboro, N.C., received alife prison sentence inDecember after he admittedto shooting a Blacksburgconvenience store clerk todeath during a hold-up.Connor pleaded guilty tomurder, armed robbery,impersonating a police officerand illegal possession of aweapon. Solicitor Gowdy,Deputy Solicitor DonnieWillingham and AssistantSolicitor Michael Morinprosecuted the case.Winfred D. Benson, ofGaffney, received a life prisonsentence in March for stranglinga Gaffney woman todeath and leaving her bodyin a bathtub. Benson pleadedguilty to murder. AssistantSolicitor Kim Leskanic andPrincipal Deputy SolicitorBarry Barnette prosecutedthe case.Correy T. Bogan, ofSpartanburg, received a 15-year prison sentence in Julyafter he admitted to crashinghis car into a van whileunder the influence of drugsand seriously injuring twochildren. Bogan pleadedguilty to two counts offelony driving under theinfluence with great bodilyinjury. His sentence included5 years of probation.Principal Deputy SolicitorBarry Barnette prosecutedthe case.Wilbur Summers, ofCampobello, received a 25-year prison sentence inNovember after a jury decidedhe smuggled 2,200pounds of marijuana intoSpartanburg County. Hewas found guilty of traffickingmarijuana. AssistantSolicitors Sarah Drawdy andDerrick Bulsa prosecuted thecase.Odell J. Carpenter, ofSpartanburg, received a 20-year prison sentence inDecember after he was foundguilty of possessing .62grams of heroin during thebreak-in of a local deliverytruck. Carpenter was foundguilty of possession of heroinwith intent to distribute,resisting arrest and petty larcenyat the conclusion of ajury trial. Assistant SolicitorRyan McCarty prosecutedthe case.