Man sexually abuses young runaway

Michael Dwayne Cross Jr., of 126 Factory Road, pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor victim under the age of 16 and first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

District Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Cross to seven years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender.

Taylor credited Cross with having already spent 393 days in prison.

The charge against Cross for contributing to the delinquency of a minor was dropped.

Cross was arrested by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office in January 2023.

His charges stem from incidents in which he repeatedly helped a 15-year-old girl run away from home between August 27 and October 29, 2022.

According to the arrest warrants, the teenager stated that she had sexual intercourse with Cross four times.

The arrest warrants also state that Cross “knowingly harbored and assisted the runaway in evading detection by her parents and police” by driving her to several locations in Orangeburg County – and even hiding her in an unoccupied trailer on Gaillard Street in Eutawville.

In other recent guilty pleas:

• Malik Xavier Jenkins, 19, of 373 Jamison Avenue, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery despite originally being charged with two counts of armed robbery.

Taylor sentenced him to 12 years in prison and credited him with 91 days already served in prison.

Jenkins was charged with criminal conspiracy and grand theft of $10,000 or more. Those charges were dropped.

• Jackie Terell Sutton, 35, of 262 Broad Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of cocaine, first-degree burglary and two counts of shoplifting valued at $2,000 or less with enhanced penalty.

Taylor sentenced him to ten years in prison, with the condition that Sutton serve 30 months and then serve the remainder of his sentence on probation for two years. Taylor gave Sutton credit for having already served 483 days in prison.

After probation, Sutton must complete drug counseling.

• Denarion Jamison, 35, of 395 Amber Road, North, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle valued at $10,000 or more.

Taylor sentenced him to five years in prison, suspended for three years. Jamison must pay restitution.

• Devin Kentrell Jamison, 38, of 120 Fludd Street, Santee, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault.

Taylor sentenced him to 30 days in jail and gave him credit for time already served.

• Darryl Monte Jenkins, 41, of 966 Redmon Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary with violence despite originally being charged with first-degree burglary.

Taylor sentenced him to five years in prison and credited him with 254 days already served in prison.

• Furman McKinley Prickett IV, 46, of 4034 Columbia Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, possession of a stolen handgun and first-time trafficking in more than 10 grams but less than 28 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine base, although he was originally charged with trafficking in more than 100 grams but less than 200 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine base.

Taylor sentenced him to four years in prison and credited Prickett with 283 days already spent in prison.

Prickett was charged with nine counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and 11 counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime, but those charges were dropped.

• Thomas Isaac Richardson, 30, of 140 Rambo Drive, Summerville, pleaded guilty to safecracking, breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and second-degree burglary.

Taylor sentenced him to six years in prison and credited Richardson with 146 days already spent in prison.

Taylor requested that Richardson be placed in the prison’s addiction treatment unit.

• Kevin Thompson Jr., 33, of 498 Old River Road, Elloree, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without a permit with intent to defraud the owner, although he was originally charged with breach of trust with intent to defraud valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

Taylor sentenced him to two years in prison. Since Thompson had already served 59 days in prison, his sentence was suspended for one year. Thompson must pay restitution.

• Tyrone Watson, 46, of 166 Cribb Street #5714, Holly Hill, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree violent burglary.

Taylor sentenced him to five years in prison and credited Watson with 206 days already spent in prison.