SC man gets 20 years for conspiring to kill agent

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A 43-year-old Greenville man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting to kill an FBI agent.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins says Dwight Spears was sentenced on Wednesday. In July, a federal jury found Spears guilty of conspiring to kill Special Agent Brian Bryan.

Prosecutors have said Spears was in the Spartanburg County jail when he agreed to help fellow inmate Kenneth Manigan kill Bryan to keep the agent from testifying in Manigan's drug trial.

A third person, Marielena Ledy Martinez, agreed to post Spears' bond, give him a weapon and help him find Bryan. But Spears was arrested on an unrelated charge before he could kill Bryan.

Manigan and Martinez have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will be sentenced later.

Spears' attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Judge upholds James Island's right to exist

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A state judge has upheld the incorporation of the Town of James Island, ruling in a suit brought by the city of Charleston which twice before forced the town to dissolve.

James Island Mayor Mary Clark told The Post and Courier of Charleston she is "on cloud nine" after seeing Circuit Court Judge Cordell Maddox's ruling.

But Charleston plans to appeal. Mayor Joe Riley says public policy favors not duplicating services and large sections of the island are already in the Charleston limits.

Charleston was successful in getting James Island incorporations tossed in 1992 and in 2004.

Island residents voted again to incorporate two years ago and Charleston again sued, saying the law allowing it was unconstitutional special legislation.

Congressman: terror detainees have no place in SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. - U.S. Rep. Henry Brown has introduced a bill in Congress to prevent Guantanamo Bay terror detainees from being brought to the Navy brig near Charleston.

President-elect Barack Obama's advisers are crafting plans to close Guantanamo and prosecute terrorism suspects in the United States.

But Brown said Wednesday housing them in Charleston would be, as he put it, "a horrible mistake."

He says the detainees are dangerous and the brig is a medium-security prison. He says it's less than a mile from densely populated areas and near the North Charleston port terminal as well as Interstate 526.

Brown says all alternatives should be considered before closing Guantanamo.