15 charges of child pornography

A Lexington man has been arrested on 15 counts of child pornography.

Fred Rufus Kerr, Jr., 54, faces charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Kerr. Investigators state Kerr distributed and possessed files of child pornography.

Kerr was arrested on Jan. 24, and is charged with 5 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 2nd degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count; and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 3rd degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Boiling Springs road fatality

A Leesville woman died Saturday in a collision on Boiling Springs Rd.

Doris Smith Waters, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene due to her injuries, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher.

Waters was traveling on Longview Street and collided with another vehicle as she turned left onto Boiling Springs Road.

Waters was not wearing a seat belt when the collision occurred. The driver of the other vehicle, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to an area hospital. The condition of that person is unknown.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

Life sentence for Lexington County man

Lee Anthony “Tony” Corley, 39, has been sentenced to life in prison for the April 2017 murder of Alena Marie Kennedy, 36.

A jury found Corley guilty on all charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of human remains. Corley is not eligible for parole under South Carolina law.

Alena Kennedy, a resident of Lexington County, was reported missing by her mother Jeniece Kennedy May 25, 2017.

June 16, 2017, Alena’s remains were recovered on a dirt road at Old Two Notch Road in Lexington County.

Family members of Alena Kennedy spoke at the sentencing hearing and shared memories of Alena as a loving daughter, sister, and mother.

Kennedy was a graduate of Lexington High School.

Pine Ridge Middle shooting threat

A Pine Ridge Middle School student is charged with making threats Jan. 28 after he made reference to committing a shooting at his school.

The 13-year-old student, whose name will not be released because he’s under the age of 18, was overheard by a substitute teacher and other students last Tuesday, according to deputies.

Deputies interviewed the student at the school. He was released to the custody of his grandmother.

The student was suspended, pending further action in accordance with district policy. The student is not allowed on any district property or at any district event, according to a School District 2 statement.

Lexington 2 encourages students, parents and others to report any safety concerns immediately to a school administrator, school counselor, teacher, SRO or any other employee.