Across the area

Murder suspect who fled hospital is jailed

An Aiken County murder suspect who fled an Augusta hospital only to return a few days later is in jail.

Terrence Riley, 40, of Columbia, was taken to the Richmond County jail at about 5:51 p.m. Tuesday, according to a sheriff's office jail committal.

Police say Mr. Riley was one of four men who fatally shot Jerry Tyler in a Ridge Spring home invasion June 12. Mr. Riley was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital after one of his partners accidentally shot him in the leg, lower abdomen and chest, police say.

Once extradition is complete, he could be taken to the Aiken County Detention Center.

Woman found dead in trunk was strangled

An Augusta woman found dead in the trunk of her car last week at an Alabama rest stop was strangled, autopsy results show.

Authorities found the body of Jessica Lynn Murphy, 30, on June 16 in Conecuh County, south of Montgomery, at a rest stop off Interstate 65.

Ms. Murphy, an employee of The Augusta Chronicle advertising department, is believed to have been killed by her estranged husband, Scottie Murphy, authorities said. Mr. Murphy was found dead in the front seat of the car from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Shane McDaniel said a Conecuh County coroner determined Ms. Murphy died of asphyxiation caused by a rope or cord.

Wife of child molester receives probation

The wife of a former North Augusta public official and TV host who is serving a 78-year prison sentence for sexually abusing children received a probated sentence Tuesday.

Defense attorney Victor Hawk said Tuesday that Susan Meloan entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of contributing. The plea allowed the judge to determine that enough evidence was present to convict Ms. Meloan but it does not require any admission of guilt.

Edward Meloan was sentenced for 12 sex crimes related to abuse of boys in the 1960s and '70s. The former host of the horror show Shock Theatre and former chairman of the North Augusta Planning Commission pleaded guilty in October 2007 in Aiken County Court.

Mr. Hawk said the victim involved in the count against Ms. Meloan didn't want to see her jailed because he believed she was coerced by Mr. Meloan.

Ms. Meloan received a three-year suspended sentence with one year's probation. She is to write an apology to the victim and perform 100 hours of community service, Mr. Hawk said.

Man takes plea after years awaiting appeal

An Augusta man who won a new trial when finally afforded an appeal last year accepted a plea deal Tuesday.

Lewis B. Brown, 33, pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to reduced charges of two counts of aggravated assault and weapon violations. Mr. Brown, who has been in jail or prison since his arrest in May 2001, was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by six years' probation.

Mr. Brown and a second man were convicted in June 2002 in the home invasion and shooting of brothers Curtis and Gerald "Travis" Mance. Mr. Brown was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Former Judge Duncan D. Wheale granted Mr. Brown a new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Former football player loses case to bank

Former professional football player and Martinez businessman Arthur Marshall lost a nearly $4 million case in federal court Friday.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall granted civil judgments in favor of Wachovia Bank. Mr. Marshall was issued loans for property development. The bank contended that he stopped making payments in January 2008.

On Friday, the judge granted the bank a $269,383 judgment against Mr. Marshall's nonprofit company, Project Quest, and a $3,377,728 judgment against Mr. Marshall. Mr. Marshall, who filed for bankruptcy last year, was indicted this month on federal charges including mortgage fraud and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty.

Augusta man pleads guilty to molestation

An Augusta man pleaded guilty Tuesday to molestation charges involving a victim from the age of 9 to 14.

Richmond County Superior Court Judge Michael N. Annis sentenced Donnie Williams to 20 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.

Mr. Williams, 53, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of child molestation and a count of aggravated sexual battery, crimes that occurred between January 2004 and January 2009.

Woman sentenced for injuring 7-month-old

A woman who ran an in-home day care in Aiken has pleaded guilty to inflicting great bodily injury on a child and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Erica Paradise, 21, was accused of hitting a 7-month-old infant on the head and throwing her on a hardwood floor, causing the infant to have seizures, a skull fracture and hemorrhaging, said Brenda Brisbin, an assistant Aiken County solicitor.

Ms. Brisbin said the November incident was reported by a parent who was picking up her child and noticed the injured infant.

Ms. Paradise's sentence Monday includes two years of community supervision after her prison term, Ms. Brisbin said.

Ms. Brisbin said the child is expected to make a full recovery.

Gas station worker is accused of lotto fraud

A 22-year-old worker at a North Augusta gas station has been accused of lottery fraud.

William Theodore Pattison III was arrested Monday night and charged with defrauding the South Carolina Lottery Commission of $330 on June 1 by pocketing the winnings of a ticket that wasn't purchased by a customer.

He is accused of entering the ticket as a winner at Greg's Gas Plus on Jefferson Davis Highway, then taking the ticket to Circle K on Jefferson Davis Highway and cashing it.

Fleming no longer on court's candidate list

Former state Rep. Barry Fleming has withdrawn his name from those of applicants seeking an appointment to the Georgia Supreme Court.

A final list of nearly 40 candidates to replace Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears was prepared by the Judicial Nomination Commission for Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Mr. Fleming, a Columbia County attorney, was listed as a withdrawn candidate Tuesday.

Traffic update

Columbia County

The Interstate 20 overpass on Baker Place Road in Columbia County has been closed for unscheduled repairs. Residents will have access to Baker Place Road from the north and south ends, but no traffic will be allowed on the overpass, according to a news release. Nonresidential traffic will be detoured. The road closure is for crews to repair a pothole affecting the bridge and adjacent road . The overpass will remain closed until further notice. Northbound traffic on Wrightsboro Road will be detoured to Chamblin and International Parkway to the north side of Baker Place Road. Southbound traffic on Chamblin Road will follow a detour onto International Parkway and Wrightsboro Road to the south end of Baker Place Road.

Aiken County

An eastbound section of Interstate 20 in Aiken County will be closed tonight as construction work takes place for phase two of the Palmetto Parkway project. A contractor will be setting new beams across eastbound I-20, and the section of the interstate that crosses under U.S. Highway 25 will be closed from 10 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release. Eastbound traffic will be detoured using the ramp at exit 5.