News In Brief - September 4, 2008

By Staff and Wire Reports - Staff and Wire Reports

Lancaster man faces 15 years for having firearm

A Lancaster man has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins.

Larry Ingram, Jr., 24, of Lancaster will be sentenced at a later date. Based upon his status as an armed career criminal, Ingram faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in federal prison.

Last April, Ingram was one of the people at a disturbance outside a business. According to the release, Ingram fled from Lancaster police when they approached.

After a short chase, officers caught Ingram and recovered a fully-loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun, the release states.

Ingram is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition based upon his state convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, second- and third-degree burglaries, unlawfully carrying a weapon, possession of a pistol by a person under 21 years of age and breaking into motor vehicles.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lancaster Police Department, and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative.

--Kimberly Dick

York Tech to hold voter registration, seminar

The York Technical College Student Paralegal Association will host these events today on the campus, 452 S. Anderson Road, Rock Hill:

• Voter registration drive: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m at the college's Student Center. For those already registered to vote, a York County election official will be on hand with a voting machine and sample ballots. Details, 981-7079.

• Notary public seminar: 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Baxter Hood Center. Free. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Speakers will address state laws governing notaries, notary responsibility, liability and penalties. For details, call 734-2512.

--Shawn Cetrone

Prosecutor: S.C. killer stalked his three victims

SUMTER -- Prosecutors say a man who pleaded guilty to killing three Sumter County men stalked each of his victims, studying their houses while they were at work.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against 27-year-old Stephen Bryant in the killing spree that happened over a week in October 2004.

Prosecutor Dudley Saleeby Jr. says Bryant coldly killed each victim, shooting one in the back and face before stealing steaks he had just bought. Saleeby said Bryant stole a ring off the finger of another victim after killing him in his home.

The Item of Sumter reported that Bryant's sentencing hearing continued Wednesday with a survivor testifying that Bryant shot him in the back as he fished at a bridge in Richland County. Clinton Brown, 56, said he has yet to fully recover.

Reward increased for info in deputy's death

WALTERBORO -- State investigators say the reward for information in the shooting death of a Colleton County deputy has been increased to $25,000.

The National Police Defense Foundation donated $10,000 and local law firm Hetrick Harvin & Bonds added $5,000 to the $10,000 reward the Colleton County Council put up last month.

Deputy Dennis Compton was fatally shot last month while he was responding to a burglar alarm near Smoak.

At a news conference Wednesday, investigators also asked the public for information about who may have owned a T-shirt found a half-mile from the shooting with "It's nice to Meet you. You really seem like an interesting person" and "I'm Lying" written on it. Investigators say the shirt is not considered evidence in the shooting.