Former South Congaree pastor arrested for child rape

A former South Congaree pastor has been charged with at least 12 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child.

William Oswald, 56, was denied bond last week and remains jailed at the Lexington County Detention Center ahead of his next court appearance in May, WIS-TV reported.

Two victims allege the sexual abuse took place between 1996 and 2001 at Dunn’s Chapel Church, where Oswald was a pastor, according to investigators. According to the incident report, the victims described in graphic detail the alleged sexual assaults, each stating they were assaulted more than 100 times during that time period, WIS reported. The victims said the alleged abuse began when they were around the age of 8 and continued until their early teens.

“Moving forward, we’ll go to the solicitor’s office and the victims will have to relive this over and over again,” South Congaree Police Chief Josh Shumpert said, according to the TV station. “They’ll have to continue to cooperate with the solicitors office and ultimately go to trial.”

The two victims were inside the courtroom Wednesday morning during Oswald’s bond hearing. One said she feels empowered by stepping forward and reporting the alleged abuse.

One victim said she knows of other victims that have yet to come forward. South Congaree Police said there are likely other victims in different jurisdictions.

If you have information regarding this case, contact Chief Shumpert at the South Congaree Police Department at (803)-755-2760.

Lexington County man sentenced to 40 Years

A Lexington County man pleaded guilty to murder last week.

Charlie Don Robinson, III, 26, was sentenced to 40 years following his guilty plea to murder in the shooting death of Robert William All, Jr., 22, on July 11, 2018. Robinson was facing a possible sentence of life in prison. Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, imposed a sentence of 40 years.

Under South Carolina law, a person sentenced for murder is not eligible for parole.

“This was a senseless killing and robbery that took place here in Lexington County,” 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated. “The hard work of law enforcement resulted in the quick apprehension of this defendant and the swift resolution of this case.”

On July 11, 2018, Robinson planned to steal a 2018 Nissan Altima that the victim, Robert All, Jr., had borrowed from a friend. Robinson and All were acquaintances. Prior to the shooting, Robinson asked All for a ride and they ended up on Toole Smith Road in the Swansea area of Lexington County. Robinson then ordered the victim out of the car at gunpoint after striking him in the head with the firearm. After exiting the car, Robinson shot the victim in the back multiple times. Robinson ultimately fired a fatal gunshot wound to the back of the victim’s head.

Robinson then went through the victim’s pockets, removing his key fob to the vehicle along with his wallet and cell phone. Residents reported hearing the gunshots and called 911 after locating the victim’s body.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement spotted the stolen vehicle and pursued it. Robinson was identified as the driver of the vehicle by several witnesses. He abandoned the vehicle and fled from law enforcement.

Robinson was arrested on July 13, 2018, and he ultimately confessed to the murder. He admitted to stealing the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint and ultimately shooting him. Robinson told law enforcement where the murder weapon was located and it was recovered. An autopsy revealed that the victim suffered a total of 4 gunshot wounds.

“I will never be able to walk out my front door again and not see the coroner there telling me my son is deceased,” the victim’s mother told the judge.

“Robert would have done anything for anybody and it’s left a huge hole in our family. I just wish I could see my son again, but I can’t.”

Robert All, Jr. was the father of a 4-year-old son.

Robinson has prior criminal convictions for manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine along with a weapons charge.

Lexington burglary suspect arrested in North Carolina

Lexington police report a man wanted for multiple overnight burglaries has been apprehended in North Carolina.

David Kemp Ferguson, 34, faces 2 counts of burglary and theft of a motor vehicle charges.

Police said that:

• About 3 am Friday, officers went to the 400 block of West Main Street because a suspicious man was seen in the area. An officer found the man, later identified as Kemp, while checking the Lexington Driving Academy and Deroin Tax & Business Service.

• Ferguson saw the officer and bolted from the back door of the business, running into nearby woods. Officers searched with a police K-9, but were unable to find Ferguson.

• Ferguson burgled the Lexington Driving Academy at 403 W. Main St. and had broken through a door that adjoined to Deroin Tax & Business Service.

• Stole a 2017 Nissan Sentra, driving it to the back of the business as stolen items were found inside the car.

Lexington County woman pleads guilty to fraud

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Brenda M. Leno, 55, of Lexington, pleaded guilty last week to insurance fraud.

Leno pleaded guilty to one count of Making a False Statement or Misrepresentation $1,000 or More.

Judge Frank Addy accepted the plea and sentenced Leno to 18 months in prison, which was suspended to 5 years of probation. A special condition of her probation is that she pay $18,000 of restitution to the insurance company, the amount she received through the fraud. She is allowed to pay $100/month for the term of probation. The remainder of any money owed will be converted to a civil judgment against Mrs. Leno.

“Some people seem to think insurance fraud is a victimless crime because the money comes from a big insurance company,” said AG Wilson. “But this kind of fraud is paid for by all of us through higher insurance rates. We’ll continue to go after people who commit insurance fraud.”

The fraud took place between February 1, 2014 and February 22, 2016. Leno’s then-common law husband, James Thames, had a Disability Insurance Policy with Constitutional Life Insurance that began paying out $1,000/ month beginning in 1996. Thames died on January 31, 2014, but Leno continued to request payments from the insurance company after her husband’s death.

School safety seminar April 16 in Lexington

United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina kicked off its 28th Annual Safe Schools Seminars Series in Greer, West Columbia, and Florence.

The Safe Schools Seminars bring together law enforcement and school personnel charged with protecting children — such as superintendents, administrators, counselors, school resource officers, nurses, and social workers — to discuss some of the safety issues today’s students face.

“As we join with Walterboro in mourning the loss of a precious young life (last) week, we are reminded of the weight of our responsibility to ensure schools are a safe place for students to learn and grow,” Lydon stated. “Through our Safe Schools partnership, we will continue working toward that goal. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners and educators across the state who work tirelessly to protect our students.”

Topic sessions during the Safe Schools Seminars include De-Escalation in the Education Environment; Behavior Threat Assessment; Vaping: How It’s Affecting Our Youth; and Don’t Get Sued: Protecting Educators, Administrators, and SROs from Liabilities.

The Safe Schools Seminars are hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association, the South Carolina Department of Education, the Francis Marion University Police Department, the West Columbia Police Department, the Lexington Police Department, the Greer Police Department, and the North Charleston Police Department.

Upcoming Safe Schools Seminars will be in Lexington on April 16, and North Charleston on June 12.

Hope Ministries fined for failing to file financials

Secretary of State Mark Hammond announced last week his office obtained an injunction against Miracle House of Hope Ministries for violations of the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. The charitable organization has accrued fines totaling $10,000 for soliciting contributions while not registered and failure to file annual financial reports.

Miracle House of Hope Ministries is located in Charlotte but the SC Secretary of State’s Office has received complaints that the organization has solicited in Greenville, Dorchester, Lexington and Richland counties. Miracle House of Hope Ministries representatives solicit cash on street corners and intersections from motorists who are likely unaware that the organization is operating illegally in the state.

“The registration and financial report filing requirements under the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act serve the purpose of providing transparency to donors,” said Secretary Hammond. “Without these filings, we have no idea what this organization is doing with donors’ contributions. I implore all South Carolina residents to be wary anytime someone asks them for a donation and to do their research before handing over their hard-earned money.”

The Secretary of State’s Office filed a petition for injunctive relief with the South Carolina Administrative Law Court in December 2018, alleging that Miracle House of Hope Ministries failed to file its annual financial reports for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, and had solicited contributions while its registration was suspended.