Laurens, S.C.; June 6, 2024 – A Clinton man with a criminal history dating back four decades is headed to prison for 20 years after pleading Monday to charges stemming from a 2022 burglary, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Wednesday.
Calvin Jerome Goggins, 58, pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree burglary and petit larceny. Circuit Judge Alex Kinlaw then sentenced Goggins to 20 years in prison. With a trial scheduled for this week in Laurens County, Goggins elected to change his plea to guilty. Due to his lengthy criminal record, Goggins was subject to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole should he have been convicted at trial. Goggins has a lengthy criminal history dating all the way back to 1984.
In 2022, Goggins broke into a home in Clinton and was seen on surveillance inside the victim’s home where a television and stereo system were stolen. Officers recognized Goggins on the video due to their previous dealings with him. Goggins was located a short time later and apprehended following a brief foot chase. The stolen items were located in an abandoned property between the victim’s home and where Goggins was apprehended.
Senior Assistant Solicitor Jared Simmons and Assistant Solicitor Mary Madison Driggers prepared the case for trial, with the assistance of 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office investigators Jared Hunnicutt and Josh Pittman. Goggins was represented by William Hodge of the Richland County Bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with lead investigator Sgt. Adam Galloway of the Clinton Department of Public Safety in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“Our communities should not tolerate career criminals like Calvin Goggins, who for years has been violating the sanctuary of people’s homes and stealing from them,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “I am pleased to see Goggins behind bars for the foreseeable future, and my office will continue to fight with law enforcement to keep those like him off our streets.”