CountyJail.net

Find Spartanburg County Jail inmates...

Pre-sentencing

Interview with Charles, Rich, Kevin, Molly, Jeremy, Chad and Laura

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Charles: I was caught for DUS 3rd on August 16, 2010.
Rich: after being charged i was put in jail to set bond. you are made to sit there for up to 16 hours to wait to see the judge for a bond hearing. then i was moved to the housing pod where i stayed for approx. 10 months waiting to plead guilty in court. you find out 4 hours before you go to court. otherwise you have no idea when you will get to see the judge unless you have hired a private attorny.
Kevin: I turned myself in and I sat in the "pit," which is an area with about 30 chairs, a television, two telephones and a restroom, to wait to see a judge. You can use the phone after being processed when no one else is on it and can make as many phone calls as you want. During this time I was fingerprinted and had my mugshot taken, or was processed. It took four to six hours to see the judge.
Molly: The police came to my house with a bench warrant. I was handcuffed and put in the back of the police car, then takes to the jail.
Jeremy: I was taken directly to jail before I was sentenced
Chad: booked in, bond hearing, medical evaluation, housing, waiting, waiting, waiting
Laura: Im guessing the pre sentencing is when i went ti court the first time when i was told to pay $652.50 or a bench warrant would be issued for my arrest. that was a pretty stressful time. because i knew that i had recently lost my job so i knew it would be difficult

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Charles: Yes. Officer Godfrey, of Duncan City PD came to my Mom's house to talk to me about the court date.
Rich: the police came to my house, came to the door and said they had received a 911 call from my address. this was at 3 a.m. ( keep in mind there was not a phone anywhere in the house cell or landline ) . then they returned at 8 a.m. to search the house and said they had information that meth was being made there.
Kevin: No, police stopped by my house with a warrant for my arrest on a weekend and allowed me to wait until Monday to turn myself in so that I could see a judge as soon as possible.
Molly: Yes, once they identified me I was arrested.
Jeremy: Yes
Chad: no. was arrested on a "tip"
Laura: the police were called to my house because me and my fiance were arguing and fighting. he told the cops i had a warrant in duncan sc. they left my hone lime everything wadms done so i went to sleep because it was late i woke up later to two cops standing over me bed.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Charles: Very brief.
Rich: people that were in custody sat in the jury box until our name was called. then i went up in front of the judge with my lawyer. the judge asked "how do you plead?" and i said "guilty". the prosecuter read the police report, my lawer said a few things, and the judge said " i accept your guilty plea" and sentenced me. i wasn't able to say anything else. this took maybe 5 minutes after i got up in front of the judge.
Kevin: I was taken to the court house and went to Family Court. Before this, I went to a holding cell for a few minutes and was called to the courtroom. In the courtroom, the judge asked me questions about my case and quickly sentenced me, it may have only taken five minutes.
Molly: I saw a magistrate judge at the jail, my choices were paying the $989.00 fine or 30 days in jail.
Jeremy: Mine was a jury trial and took an incredibly long time to get through
Chad: waited in shackles all day, from about 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. when court was over. moved into courtroom when appearance was scheduled with other inmates. stood with attorney before judge when called. the prosecutor spoke about charges, judge asked questions to prosecutor, then attorney got to speak, and then you got to speak. this was to enter a guilty plea
Laura: the court was crowded. the judge looked to be very busy but had taken care of everyone in a timely matter. Although i was sitting in there allday to be told to pay a 652$ fine or be sentenced to 30 days. in the county jail. court was court long

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Chad: trafficking meth and manufacturing meth were original charges. convicted of manufacturing
Laura: Driving Under Suspension in the first

Read about sentencing in the Spartanburg County Jail