Kershaw County Deputies arrested a couple after finding a meth lab and child in a hotel room.

Heather Leann Studd, 26, and Jonathan Michael Pope, 26, have been charged with possession of methamphetamine. Studd also faces a charge of possession of Schedule IV narcotics.

The child found in the hotel room is believed to belong to the couple and is now in the Department of Social Services’ protective custody.

Police received a tip on January 13 that took them to room 12 of the Economy Inn on U.S. 1. Police found Studd and Pope inside along with a small amount of meth and instruments used to smoke the drug, says Kershaw County Sherriff Jim Matthews.

Matthews also said Pope told them that Christopher Britt Walker, 27, was using room 19 to make meth. When the fumes would get bad in room 19, they would go to room 12.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

Upon receiving a search warrant, investigators entered room 19 and found equipment used to make meth and also an undisclosed amount of meth.

Clothing and other evidence led Police believe that Walker and Nicole Marie Goodwin, 24, were the occupants of the room.

Studd and Pope were arrested and taken to Kershaw County Detention Center. Currently, arrest warrants have been issued for Walker and Goodwin, but neither has been arrested.

South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers

Do you have rights to someone who follows you on twitter?

WLTX-TV is reporting that an Internet company is suing a former employee, claiming he left the corporation and took his 17,000 Twitter followers with him.

PhoneDog LLC says the former employee  owes them $340,000 because when he resigned to do freelance work, he changed his Twitter name from PhoneDog–Noah to noahkravitz, and kept his followers.  He also went to work for a competitor.

Kravitz, of Oakland, Calif., says in court documents he and his new company did not do anything wrong.

PhoneDog is a website that reviews all mobile devices such as phones and tablets. It has offices based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., along the coast.

PhoneDog said in the lawsuit that the former employee should pay $2.50 per follower per month for eight months. He worked for PhoneDog from 2006 until last year.

A hearing is set for next month.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

A new product is being tested in the fight against crime.

Police are developing a product that can detect a weapon on a suspect eliminating the need to frisk a suspect.

The device uses infrared rays to scan the body for natural energy, like radiation, emitted from someone carrying a concealed weapon on the street.

Police will be able to determine if something is obstructing the flow of energy and see the location of the obstruction. This will give a blueprint of where a weapon is located. Police believe that this new device could be especially useful in finding suicide bomber vests, according to Newsday.

The device currently only works for short range. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelley said it only works around three to four feet away from a person. Kelly hopes the device, which is mounted atop NYPD vans, will work for distances of at least 25 meters.

The police are working hand in hand with the US Department of Defense to develop the device.  If successful, this device will likely end the traditional frisk.  Frisking skyrocketed last year by 13 percent.

Many fear this new device would be an invasion of their privacy, similar to the “naked” body scans in airports.

Police are hoping this device along with others could prevent deaths, like that of off duty officer, Omar J. Edwards, 25, that occurred last week.

Edwards had just finished his shift when he witnessed a burglary. Edwards drew his weapon and chased the suspect. Police were responding to the call when Edwards was shot.

Police are hoping to develop a device that use radio frequency tags to show officers where other cops are in the city. Another idea for the device is to use tags that will work gun-to-gun and use an infrared sensor. Basically, when a weapon is pulled from a nearby officer’s holster a signal would be triggered, either seen or heard, and would be sent to the gun of the nearby officer.

Police are hoping these new devices may be the answer to many of their problems.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

Teenage drinking and cigarette smoking is at a historic low, but that isn’t stopping high schoolers from experimenting with other recreational drugs. Marijuana use and prescription drug abuse are continuing at high rates, and according to a new startling trend report that focuses on teens, 1 in 9 high school seniors are abusing a dangerous, but readily available new drug known as synthetic marijuana.

More than 11 percent of 12^th graders admitted using synthetic marijuana, also known as “Spice” or “K2” by the seniors, over the last year.

The Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Gil Kerlikoeske, called the results shocking.

“One in nine 12th graders in America have used synthetic marijuana in the last year. Spice and K2 now rank as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors, second only to marijuana,” Kerlikowske said

Until recently, synthetic marijuana was being sold as a legal alternative to the real drug in convenience stores all over the country. Then, the DEA sent an emergency order banning the sale of the five chemicals used to make the synthetic marijuana that took effect March 1.

Police are appealing to parents to help combat the spread of the synthetic drug, which can have the same effects as marijuana including impaired driving and judgment. Since synthetic marijuana is a relatively new phenomenon, police say that many parents aren’t even aware it exists and don’t know that it is a rising problem.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is working on a federal initiative in response to Spice/K2 that includes working with public health organizations to share statistics and data and coordinate a response. They are also working with Congress to get new laws passed that will ban these drugs.

Researchers say next year’s survey will reveal more about the effectiveness of the control measures, since much of this year’s survey covered a response period before the federal action took effect.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers

According to AJC, police say a suspect trying to emulate Santa Claus was captured after getting stuck in a chimney last Tuesday.

RanaldoMontez Jack, 17, was arrested about 1:30 p.m. after being pulled from the chimney of a home in Gwinnett, Georgia, police said.

Edyn Rodriguez, told Channel 2 Action News that he was standing in his driveway when he heard cries coming from across the street.

“He said, ‘Help me! Help me!” Rodriguez said. “Man, never in my life! … I called 911.”

WSB-TV, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta  was there when the home’s owner came home from working overnight. She had no idea someone was stuck in her chimney until the TV crew told her.

“Oh my God. That scares me to death,” Tsehainesh Kidane said. “Why did he figure out (to go) through the chimney?”

The suspect told authorities with the Gwinnett County Fire Department that he had been stuck in the chimney since about 3 a.m. Firefighters pulled him from the chimney, and police then placed him under arrest on the ground.

Jack was charged with burglary and giving false information to a police officer, said Gwinnett police Cpl. Jake Smith.   WSB-TV reported that the teen allegedly gave authorities a false name, but an officer who had dealt with him before recognized him.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

AIKEN, S.C. – Aiken Prosecutors say they will ask a judge to revoke bond for a man arrested five separate times after being charged with murder in an Aiken County shooting in 2009.

The Aiken Standard reports that 22-year-old Freddie Simpkins’ latest arrest came Tuesday on a second-degree burglary charge and he remained in jail on a $25,000 bond.

Investigators say the suspect was charged with murder in September 2009 in a drug-related shooting.  He was released on a $150,000 bond.  Since his release, the Standard has reported that he was charged with grand larceny in February 2010, simple possession of marijuana in April 2010, second-degree burglary in July 2010, and for violating the condition of his bond in October.

Most recently, Simpkin’s was arrested on a bond matter on October 6, 2011.

He was arrested yesterday for second degree burglary, and is currently being held in the Aiken County Detention Center.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney Pete Strom

South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

WLTX-TV is reporting that deputies in Florence County have arrested nine students in a fraternity and charged them with hazing after one incident left a member of the fraternity in the hospital.

The suspects are all  members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, including three students at Francis Marion University and six alumni. Authorities say the men paddled the pledge so badly he had kidney damage.

Authorities say all nine men have been released on personal recognizance bonds. South Carolina Law says hazing is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to a year in jail.

The national Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the university have suspended the Francis Marion chapter pending an investigation.

By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer

Getting Arrested Does Not Mean You Are Guilty

Being arrested or investigated for a crime can mean many things. What it does not mean is that you are guilty or that you have no rights. For experienced criminal defense attorneys who will fight for you whether the case involves a drug possession misdemeanor or felony drug trafficking and murder charges — call or contact us in Columbia, South Carolina, today. 803.252.4800

South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – The Post and Courier in Charleston is reporting the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office is in the market for a new set of tires.

Authorities say some rubber-hungry thieves stole a brand new set of tires off a Dorchester County sheriff’s car Monday night and then left the squad car sitting on cinderblocks.

Deputies claimed they left the new squad car at Mr. Sign on East 5th North Street so workers could detail the car with badges and other law enforcement markings.

Sheriff’s Major John Garrison said it must have been too tempting a target sitting in the lot overnight.

When shop manager Jamie Lucarelli arrived at the shop yesterday morning at 7:30, he said the cruiser was just sitting on cement blocks the thieves had brought with them.

“They jacked it up, grabbed the wheels and took off,” Lucarelli said. “They were brave.”

Lucarelli told the Charleston Post and Courier that the shop is located in a pretty highly traveled well lit area and that the risk must have been worth the reward, which he values at approximately $1,600.

Authorities say for now they do not have any leads or suspects.

This is the second time in that last year that the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office has been victimized by bandits.

About a year ago, thieves cut through the fence at the agency’s evidence compound and got away with 225 pounds of copper wiring recovered from previous thefts.

“It just shows nobody is immune,” Major Garrison said. “If they’ll take it from us, they’ll take it from anybody.”

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney Pete Strom

South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

CLEVELAND, OH  – The Washington Post is reporting that an Ohio poll worker who is suspected of trying to bite off the nose of a voter during an Election Day argument surrendered to sheriff’s deputies yesterday.

Cleveland Police spokesman Sgt. Sammy Morris said the suspect turned himself in at the Justice Center, which houses police headquarters and the courts, and was jailed to await possible charges.  

The 53-year-old man is accused of trying to bite off the nose of a voter who helped a campaign volunteer in an argument over signs posted near a Cleveland polling place earlier this week.

Authorities say the head-butting and nose-biting landed one man in a hospital for treatment. “I’m glad that he turned himself in because that’s the first right decision he’s made in the last 24 hours,” the victim said after learning the suspect turned himself in.

The suspect was an Election Day rover, checking for voting problems. The elections board said the suspect had a clean record and had assisted with eight elections since 2006,  but will not be hired in the future. The police incident report says the victim tried to intervene in an argument the suspect was having with a woman about whether a campaign sign was too close to the polling place.

According to the Police Report,  the victim said, “measure the distance if you are concerned, and don’t be an ass,” 

In response, the named suspect grabbed the victim around the neck, head-butted him in between the eyes, then pulled his head close to him and tried to bite his nose off.”

According to Board Director Jane Platten,  immediately after the argument the suspect then fled in his car, called the elections board, and was told to stay away from the polling place.

“My main purpose was to defuse the situation and to protect the woman,” The victim said Wednesday.

By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney

South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

(USA TODAY) –  Back during the 2003-2004 NBA season Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were feuding over the partnership that won three straight NBA Championships.

Shaq allegedly got so fed up with Kobe discussing his weight and injuries during a TV interview with former NBC and CBS sportscaster Jim Gray that he threatened to kill his teammate, according to a new autobiography Shaq Uncut: My Story, co-written by ESPN Around the Horn panelist Jackie MacMullan.

Here’s an excerpt from his new book where Shaq recalls the confrontation with Kobe after Bryant was charged with sexual assault while also taking a swipe at Gray who went on to co-perpetrate the made-for-TV LeBron James/ESPN disaster The Decision:

Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, “You always said you’re my big brother, you’d do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me.”

I did call him. … So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn’t stand behind him. That was something new. I didn’t think he gave a rat’s ass about us either way.

“Well, I thought you’d publicly support me, at least,” Kobe said. “You’re supposed to be my friend.” Brian Shaw chimed in with “Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn’t come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren’t there. Then you got married and didn’t invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don’t even know you.” …

Everyone was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, “If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.”

Kobe shrugged and said, “Whatever.”…From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe. I was done dealing with Jim Gray, too. What goes around, comes around. When he got fired, he actually had the nerve to call me and ask me to help him out. What, did you lose Kobe’s number?

O’Neal retired from the NBA earlier this year and immediately jointed TNT’s Inside the NBA.  The league is currently locked out.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney Pete Strom