Xzariera O. Gray

A Greenwood man was found guilty late Thursday night of a 2017 murder following a four-day trial at the Greenwood County Courthouse, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday.

Xzariera Okevis Gray, 30, was found guilty by a Greenwood County jury of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The jury returned the verdict just before midnight Thursday night. Circuit Judge Frank Addy Jr. ordered that sentencing will be held on Tuesday for Gray, who faces up to life without parole on the conviction.

In the early morning hours of August 26, 2017, Gray and 46-year-old Demetrius “Meatball” Fuller were involved in an argument that eventually led to Gray pulling out a gun and shooting Fuller one time. Greenwood police officers were in the area and heard the gunshot. Officers began canvassing the area and located Fuller’s body on Tanyard Avenue. Gray fled the area, but was arrested in Columbia just a few days after the shooting.

Eyewitnesses were able to identify Gray as the shooter and to assist officers in recovering the murder weapon. Investigators were also able to locate surveillance footage from a nearby home that showed Gray shooting Fuller. Gray testified on his own behalf and told the jury he shot Fuller in self defense. The jury rejected that assertion and found Gray guilty of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Violent Crimes Prosecutor Josh Thomas and Assistant Solicitor Carson Penney handled the trial for the state. Gray was represented by Janna Nelson and Shane Goranson of the Greenwood County Public Defender’s Office.

Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with Sgt. William Kay of the Greenwood Police Department in securing the conviction.

“Our community has grown sick and tired of senseless gun violence on our streets,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “I am pleased that this week a dangerous criminal has been removed from society and my office will continue to seek justice against those who willfully disregard the law.”

KEVIN WIGGINS

Greenwood, S.C.; April 3, 2019 – A career drug dealer was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a number of charges on the morning his trial was set to begin, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Wednesday.

Kevin Jermaine Wiggins, 42, of Greenwood, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to trafficking heroin, trafficking crack, trafficking cocaine, second degree assault and battery, two counts of failure to stop for blue light, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a violent felon.

Circuit Judge William Keesley then sentenced to Wiggins to 15 years in prison.

Wiggins on Monday lost a pretrial motion to suppress evidence in his trial and changed his plea to guilty on all charges on Tuesday morning. Jury selection for the trial was held Monday and opening statements were scheduled for Tuesday morning.

In January 2017, agents with Greenwood’s multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit were surveilling Wiggins’ home in preparation of serving a search warrant when Wiggins got into his truck and left the residence. DEU agents attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wiggins sped away. Agents pursued Wiggins briefly, but called off the chase after observing Wiggins driving the wrong way along McCormick Highway, endangering the lives of innocent motorists.

While agents were pursuing Wiggins, other officers executed the search warrant at Wiggins’ residence and discovered 6 grams of heroin, 64 grams of crack, 21 grams of cocaine, and 53 counterfeit oxycodone pills that were later tested by the State Law Enforcement Division and determined to contain heroin. A loaded revolver was also recovered at the residence. Wiggins is forbidden by law from possessing a firearm after being convicted in 2007 of trafficking cocaine, which is classified as a violent crime under state law. Agents obtained the search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation in which informants had purchased heroin, cocaine, and the fake oxycodone pills that contained heroin.

In July 2018, while out on bond awaiting trial for the January 2017 incident, officers attempted to stop Wiggins near Piedmont Technical College on Emerald Road and Wiggins led officers on a chase along Highway 246, through Hodges, and eventually into Abbeville County where Wiggins wrecked his vehicle near Donalds. Officers apprehended Wiggins in the woods near where he wrecked and located a .380 caliber pistol in his vehicle.

In January 2019, while still out on bond awaiting trial, Wiggins led officers on a third chase after officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop. As one officer approached Wiggins’ stopped vehicle, Wiggins sped away, nearly striking the officer with his vehicle. Wiggins weaved his way through the streets of Greenwood before crashing his vehicle along Pearl Street. Officers located and captured Wiggins immediately after he crashed the vehicle.

Violent Crimes Prosecutor Josh Thomas and Assistant Solicitor Wade Dowtin handled the case for the state. Wiggins was represented by Charles Grose of the Greenwood County Bar.

Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with former DEU agents Bryan Louis and Dyar Archibald along with current DEU agent Jaime Lovett in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.

“Our community has no place for repeat offenders like Kevin Wiggins who continually disregard the health and safety of others in order to pursue their self-serving criminal activities,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “We are glad that this man will not be wreaking havoc in the streets for many years to come and will continue to work aggressively with law enforcement to bring those like him to justice.”

Ronald Derossett, left, stands before the court with his attorney, Bill Yarbrough, during a plea proceeding Friday morning.

Laurens, S.C.; March 22, 2019 — A Greenwood man will spend the next 17 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday morning to two counts of felony DUI in connection to a 2017 incident that cost two Greenwood men their lives, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday.

Ronald Lee Derossett, 58, pleaded guilty Friday morning at the Laurens County Courthouse to two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, two counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury, possession of marijuana, and driving under suspension. Derossett was scheduled to go to trial beginning April 1. Derossett was facing up to 25 years on the charges related to the death and up to 15 years on the charges related to the injuries.

Circuit Judge Donald Hocker then handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison on each of the felony DUI resulting in death charges, 10 years in prison on each of the felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury charges and time served on each of the possession of marijuana and driving under suspension charges. The sentences will run concurrently and the court ordered Derossett to pay $15,200 in fines in addition to the prison sentence.

On the evening of May 5, 2017, Derossett was traveling west along Highway 72/221 from Laurens to Greenwood near the Lander University Equestrian Center in his 1999 Jeep just before 9 p.m. when he attempted to turn left onto Evans Pond Road. Derossett never slowed down when making the turn and hit two motorcycles traveling east. The motorcycles were being driven by 45-year-old John Ruley and 57-year-old Tommy Burdette. Each of the motorcycles also had a female passenger. Ruley and Burdette were both pronounced dead at the scene. The two female passengers sustained significant injuries that will likely last many years. Derossett’s blood-alcohol level, which was tested by the State Law Enforcement Division, was .205, significantly higher than the state’s legal limit for intoxication of .08.

Derossett has a criminal history dating back to 1982. The convictions came from four different states and most were substance abuse related.

Solicitor Stumbo and Assistant Solicitor Karissa O’Keefe-Young handled the case for the state with assistance from 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Investigator Michael Cox and Victim Advocates Mary Ann Stroup and Sarah Parris. Derossett was represented by Bill Yarbrough of the Greenville County Bar.

Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff in preparing the case as well as the thorough investigation by the state Highway Patrol, in particular Sgt. Jamie Brown and the accident reconstruction team investigator Sgt. Tommy Brooks, in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.

“There is absolutely no reason that John (Ruley) and Tommy (Burdette) should not be beginning to enjoy warmer weather as they ride their motorcycles with the ladies they loved,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the proceeding. “Instead, that night, Ronald Derossett chose to become grossly intoxicated and get behind the wheel of a vehicle. It is my hope that the families of these two men can begin to heal from this tragedy and that their legacies will live on for generations to come.”

ZANTRAVIOUS HALL

Greenwood, S.C.; November 30, 2018 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday that a member of Greenwood’s Eastside Gang was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 killing of a 23-year-old Greenwood man. Continue reading →

TALLAH L. EISON

Greenwood, S.C.; November 9, 2018 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday that a Greenwood drug dealer received consecutive sentences after he assaulted two agents with the Greenwood County Drug Enforcement Unit while being arrested on drug charges. Continue reading →