2 sentenced for sex-trafficking minors

Donnell Salethian Woodard, a/k/a “Tank,” 31, of Columbia, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to sex traffic minors and benefiting from sex trafficking of minors.

India Tykeyah-Najee Cuyler, a/k/a “Lady Tank,” 24, was also prosecuted.

An investigation revealed Woodard and Cuyler were using a cell phone to post advertisements for commercial sex with the minors on a website and taking a portion of the proceeds. Woodard and Cuyler were both charged federally.

Woodard faces of mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, a trafficking fund special assessment of $5,000, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and at least 5 years and up to a lifetime of supervised release.

Cuyler previously pleaded guilty in federal court to using a facility of interstate commerce (a cell phone) to entice a minor under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity and is awaiting sentencing.

Cuyler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, a trafficking fund special assessment of $5,000, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and at least 5 years and up to a lifetime of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Lexington Police Department, and the West Columbia Police Department.

SC correctional officers guilty of smuggling

8 former employees of the South Carolina Department of Corrections have pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting bribes to smuggle contraband into SCDC facilities.

Sharon Johnson Bree-land, a correctional officer at Broad River Correctional Institution, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Breeland accepted bribes to smuggle methamphetamine into prison. Breeland faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

The other former SCDC employees who pleaded guilty were Jamal Early, Frank Pridgeon, Miguel Williams, Catherine Prosser, Holly Mitchem, Robert Hill, and Ebonynisha Casby.

Fort Jackson soldier dies

Pfc. Andrew McLean died on Ft. Jackson in Columbia Friday, Sept. 20 after suffering a medical emergency.

McLean, of Fayetteville, NC, was a part of 3rd Battalion 60th Infantry Regiment.

The 18-year-old experienced a medical emergency while preparing to do physical training in his battalion area.

Fort Jackson medical responders immediately transported the soldier to Providence Hospital. Providers at the hospital pronounced him dead shortly after 8:30 pm.

Hospital staff reported the death was not heat related.

The unit continues to have 6 chaplains as well as behavior health professionals assisting trainees and cadre through the healing process.

“The Army and Fort Jackson grieve this loss deeply, but not as sharply as our soldier’s closest friends and family,” said Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. Our hearts and prayers are with the family members and team mates of the deceased soldier. We are providing every comfort and assistance that we can to all involved,” said Beagle.

The Army will release more information in conjunction with the surviving family’s wishes.

The Army has a tradition of holding a memorial service to help the healing process of those left behind. That information will be announced soon.

Chapin woman charged with arson

A Chapin woman is accused of intentionally setting 2 fires on the same Lexington County road last week.

Kimberly Carothers Wooten, 55, is charged with 2nd-degree arson and willfully burning lands of another, according to arrest warrants.

“Based on information gathered during our investigation, Wooten set fire to a trash can beside a house in the 2100 block of Island Trail Sept. 17,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Nobody was injured in the fire, but the house was damaged.”

Wooten is also charged in connection with a small woods fire Sept. 18 in the 2200 block of Island Trail, according to Koon.

“These cases are part of an open investigation into other fires in the Chapin area,” Koon said.

Koon said anyone with information about other fires can remain anonymous when they share a tip by calling Crimestoppers at 888-Crime-SC, logging onto www.midlandscrimestoppers.com and clicking on the “Submit a tip” tab, or by downloading the P3 Tips app for their Apple or Android device.