Court moves ahead 3 murder cases, including a teen to be tried as adult

Bond was denied Monday for a 16-year-old charged with killing an 86-year-old Ridgeland man in 2008.

Breon Alexandre of Ridgeland was 15 when Proctor Bright, a well-known mechanic in the community, was killed. Alexandre is being tried as an adult.

Judge Perry M. Buckner denied Alexandre's bond at the temporary courthouse at the old Ridgeland Middle School, according to 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone. Bond decisions are based on whether the defendant is considered a flight risk, a danger to the community or both, Stone said.

"I could not imagine a more dangerous individual or a bigger flight risk," Stone said.

Alexandre also is charged with first-degree burglary, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. He pleaded not guilty.

If convicted of murder, Alexandre could serve life in prison, Stone said.

Attempts to reach Alexandre's attorney, Steve Plexico, chief public defender for Allendale, Hampton and Jasper counties, were unsuccessful Monday evening.

Authorities said the teen left his house at about 3 a.m. July 18, 2008, hitchhiked to Bright's Grahamville Road home and climbed inside through a window.

Once inside, Alexandre allegedly found Bright's .22-caliber rifle and then woke him up. Stone said Alexandre beat Bright, shot him with the gun and then slit his throat with a knife. He then took Bright's car keys and money and drove Bright's car toward North Carolina, Stone said.

The car broke down in Clarendon County on Interstate 95, Stone said. Alexandre sold the car and gun to a tow truck driver to buy a bus ticket to Greensboro, N.C. Authorities arrested him in Greensboro, Stone said.

Alexandre's case will be presented to a Jasper County grand jury Oct. 20.

OTHER MURDER CASES

Hearings for two other Jasper County residents charged with murder also were held Monday in Ridgeland.

Judge Buckner denied bond for Terry Dean Swanger, 44, charged with killing Vickki Popeon Aug. 7 in Hardeeville. Pope, 45, was beaten to death inside her mobile home where she lived with Swanger, officials have said. Police found Pope's body covered by a blanket in the back seat of a car parked near the mobile home.

In a third hearing, a psychiatric report by the S.C. Department of Mental Health indicated that Joseph Davis, charged with murdering Estill convenience store owner Ronnie Wooten in June 2007, is not competent to stand trial, Stone said.

Davis also is charged in the August 2008 murder of Antonio Holmes in Jasper County.

Stone is seeking the death penalty for Davis.

Davis takes the anti-psychotic medicine Haldoland suffers from Haldol toxicity, which includes conditions that mirror those of Parkinson's disease, Stone said.

A psychiatrist said Davis will be competent for trial if taken off the medication, Stone said.

The Department of Mental Health is expected to re-evaluate Davis in 60 days.