Rape, assault indictments opened

One man accused of forcing intercourse with teen; 4 suspects accused of beating Harlem man

Web posted October 29, 1998

By S.B. Crawford
Columbia County Bureau

A Grovetown man charged with the rape of a 14-year-old girl and four men accused of conspiring to assault a Harlem resident were among criminal indictments opened in Columbia County Superior Court this week.

Reginald Floyd Smith, 35, of the 4400 block of Wrightsboro Road, was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday in the alleged rape of a 14-year-old Grovetown girl.

Police believe that on the evening of Sept. 3, Mr. Smith was alone with the girl while her mother was at work.

The mother told authorities Mr. Smith went into her daughter's bedroom, grabbed the girl by the throat and forced her to have sexual intercourse for more than 20 minutes.

After an investigation, sheriff's investigators arrested Mr. Smith on Sept. 15. He was still being held Wednesday at the Columbia County Detention Center without bond.

In other indictments, four men were charged with aggravated assault in connection with the June 19 baseball bat beating of Joseph Coessens of Harlem.

Harlem authorities say 27-year-old Darian Gerald Stewart, of Martinez, was behind an alleged conspiracy to attack Mr. Coessens.

Mr. Stewart allegedly paid David Lee Funderburk, 27, of Aiken, $600 to assault Mr. Coessens, said Lt. Bonnie Parker of the Harlem Police Department.

In turn, Mr. Funderburk allegedly hired two Augusta men, David Michael Sequin Jr., 20, and Samuel Wayne Smith Jr., 20, to carry out the actual attack, Lt. Parker said.

All four men were charged with aggravated assault.

Mr. Stewart also was charged with two counts of terroristic threats for allegedly threatening Mr. Coessens' life.

Mr. Stewart was freed Aug. 28 on bonds totaling $17,600, police said.

Mr. Sequin and Mr. Smith are still being held in the Columbia County Detention Center. Mr. Funderburk is in the custody of Aiken County authorities, police said.

S.B. Crawford covers Columbia County for The Augusta Chronicle. He can be reached at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 115, or ccchron@augustachronicle.com.