news in brief

20-year-old sentenced in Lexington home invasion

Quintrell Morris, 20, of Columbia, was sentenced to over 22 years in federal prison. Morris plead guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to use/carry/possess/brandish firearms during a crime of violence, possessing firearms during a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In December 2017, Morris and his co-defendant Brandon Thompson broke into a home on Maple View Drive in Lexington. Deputies detained both Morris and Thompson. They then found a woman tied up with her children, one of whom had called 911. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Morris to a total of 272 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

Shooting on Old Barnwell Rd.

Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies reported a shooting late Friday night. A man was transported from the 2100 block of Old Barnwell Road for treatment of a gunshot wound. Deputies believe he was shot in the 500 block of Pin Oak Drive. According to investigators, the shooter and victim knew each other.

Former Airport High teacher loses license

The Airport High School assistant principal fired over a sex scandal has given up her teaching license. The South Carolina School Board accepted Dawn Diimmler’s request to give up her educator certificate Apr. 9, The State Newspaper reported. Diimmler also waived her right to a hearing before the board. The Lexington 2 school board fired Diimmler Feb. 12, 2018, hours after placing her on administrative leave. Diimmler pleaded guilty to 2 counts of 2nd degree harassment after having sex with a 19-year-old student on school grounds. In South Carolina, it is a crime for any teacher or school administrator to have sex with an enrolled student regardless of the student’s age.

Driver rescued from overturned vehicle

An overturned vehicle on South Lake Drive shut down all outbound lanes of traffic Monday afternoon. The Lexington Police Department responded to the collision on South Lake/SC-6 at 1-20 around 2:15 pm. One vehicle had overturned on its side, trapping the driver inside. Lexington County Fire Service and EMS were able to extract the driver. The drive suffered non-life threatening injuries. All lanes of traffic re-opened by 3:30 pm following the collision.