Pedestrian killed in West Columbia

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a motor vehicle Oct. 16 about 6:30 am in West Columbia.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified Charles D. Stone, 85, of West Columbia was in the road in the 200 block of Alexandria Street when he was hit.

Stone was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later due to his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, who was not injured, stopped at the scene.

The West Columbia Police Department is investigating.

No injuries in Chapin house fire

Emergency Service personnel from Lexington County Fire Service, Irmo Fire, Little Mountain Fire, Columbia Fire and Lexington County EMS responded to a 2-story house fire in the 100 block of Bogater Road early Sunday morning.

Arriving units could see heavy smoke and flames coming from the home and immediately began external fire extinguishing operations.

No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported.

Due to the home’s proximity to the lake, water shuttle operations were utilized and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol unit brought the fire boat for additional water supply.

Officials estimate that 50% of the home received fire damage and are investigating the cause.

Serial arsonist sentenced to prison

A serial arsonist and 2 other defendants were sentenced in Lexington County last week.

Kimberly C. Wooten, 56, pled guilty but mentally ill to the charge of Arson - 2nd degree.

She was sentenced to 25 years, suspended on serving 17 years in prison.

Wooten pled to burning down a home under construction at 265 Wessinger Farms Road in Chapin Sept. 15.

Under SC law, this is a “no parole” offense and Wooten must serve at least 85% of the sentence.

Wooten has 6 prior arson convictions from Richland County in 2008 for intentionally burning homes in the Irmo area.

She served an active sentence of 13 years in the SC Department of Corrections before being released.

She re-offended in 2019 with new arson charges in Lexington County.

Wooten’s case was prosecuted by 11th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes.

Violent criminals get prison time

Judge Walton J. McLeod IV presided over proceedings last week, which included multiple violent crime cases:

• Anthony Fanning, 38, received the maximum sentence of 20 years for Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. This crime is a “no parole” offense under South Carolina law.

On the afternoon of Dec. 3, 2018, Fanning was operating a motorcycle and fired shots into a traveling Hyundai Sonata vehicle on I-26 which severely injured a female occupant.

During the apparent rage incident, Fanning fired a pistol which struck the driver’s side of the car multiple times. 3 adults and 3 small children were inside the Hyundai.

The mother of the children was critically injured and sustained injuries requiring surgeries to her skull, forehead, left eye, and jaw area. Several bullet fragments remain in her skull that doctors were unable to remove. The children were uninjured, although 1 bullet hit a baby car seat.

This case was prosecuted by 11th Circuit Senior Assistant Solicitor Angela G. Martin.

• Michael Matthew Nowinski, 27, was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to Armed Robbery, 2 counts of Kidnapping, Burglary – 2nd degree, and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime. This crime is a “no parole” offense under SC law.

On Aug. 18, 2019, Nowinski committed a burglary of a residence located on Greenwood Drive in the West Columbia area of Lexington County. He was armed with a shotgun and struck 3 victims inside the residence while demanding the safe.

This case was handled by 11th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Sutania Fuller.