Violent crimes are, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence in South Carolina. With local law enforcement doing all they can to crack down on these crimes, individuals accused of any sort of involvement in a violent crime could face very serious consequences under state laws. Recently, three young men were arrested and are facing felony charges for their supposed connection in a string of armed robberies in Florence.
Two of these individuals, ages 17 and 24, were arrested after reportedly leading police on a chase in Florence County. The third, an 18-year-old male, was arrested at the end of April after an incident which purportedly resulted a brief shootout with a police officer. Both were injured in the incident.
Charges against these men include multiple armed robberies involving a deadly weapon, among others. They all stand accused of holding their victims at gunpoint while taking valuable possessions. The items taken are said to include money, cellphones and firearms. It is currently unknown if court dates for bond hearings or to set further court dates have been scheduled in any of their cases.
According to South Carolina laws, individuals convicted of armed robbery may face a prison sentence ranging in length from 10 to 30 years. The repercussions of a sentence of that length, particularly regarding these young people, would surely be devastating for them and their families. A persuasive criminal defense could prove beneficial in fighting the felony charges of which each of these individuals stand accused. They each have the right to challenge evidence as it pertains to their individual case, while working to seek a result that is in their own best interests.
Source: scnow.com, “Florence County investigators charge man in five armed robberies“, Traci Bridges, April 29, 2014