The Aiken Department Public Safety has identified Cortavious Darshun Johnson (23) of Augusta, GA as the individual wanted for Armed Robbery of an individual at Walmart on Aug. 1.

On Aug. 1, the victim was approached by Mr. Johnson while she was sitting in her vehicle in the parking lot. Mr. Johnson pointed a handgun at the victim, and demanded her money, according to police. The victim gave Mr. Johnson an undisclosed amount of money and her cellular telephone, and he then left the area in an unknown white in color vehicle.

Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of Mr. Johnson is asked to contact Crimestoppers of the Midlands at 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372). Callers will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.

Charles Walker was spotted today at Cafe 209 on Broad Street in Augusta, where he was kind enough to pose for a picture with Jail Report fan Gina Telfair.

Telfair passed on the images to us. We believe it’s the public’s first public glimpse of the former state senator from Georgia.

Walker was released Sept. 26 from the custody of the federal prison system.

The Democrat from Augusta was once a powerful member of the General Assembly. He was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud, conspiracy, lying about the circulation of his newspaper, pocketing charity funds and other crimes.

Walker had been living in an Atlanta halfway house and he now remains under probation.

An Waynesboro officer who was charged with DUI last month after hitting a stop sign in Hephzibah had been in a wreck just two hours before and was not arrested, according to documents obtained by The Jail Report.

If you recall, Kimberly Marie Sanders was charged Sept. 16 with DUI after striking a curb and hitting a stop sign at about 3 p.m. that day outside IGA on Highway 88, authorities said.

But that was her second wreck in Hephzibah, according to Chief Dwayne Flowers.

In the first wreck at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Sanders allegedly ran a red light at Highway 88 and struck a vehicle driven by Terry Moore who was proceeding through a green light at Windsor Spring Road. Sanders was cited for disregarding a traffic control device (red light) and released.

Why didn’t the Hephzibah Police mention the earlier wreck when the officer’s DUI made news last month?

Here is a statement from Chief Flowers: “The main reason is that it was two separate incidents two hours apart, and second reason is that all request for information was specifically addressing the DUI accident and arrest. In the first wreck with Mr. Moore on September 16, 2014 we saw NO obvious signs of impairment displayed by Mrs. Sanders.  The 2nd wreck that day we did and acted accordingly.”

Less than two hours after the first wreck, Sanders hit the stop sign and then kept going down the highway, police said. That’s when someone reported her erratic driving and she was stopped nearby.

Sanders, 46, of Blythe,  passed a Breathalyzer test but failed a field sobriety test given by Chief Flowers. The chief requested a blood sample and Sanders provided one at the scene.

“We determined she was impaired. It was not alcohol,” he said at the time, adding that Sanders didn’t admit taking anything to impair her driving. She said she was headed to a doctor’s appointment.

A criminal investigation is underway by SLED into the actions of a jailer at the Aiken County Detention Center, The Jail Report has learned.

Aiken County authorities have asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate a recent incident at the jail that led to the firing of a sheriff’s deputy, according to Capt. Nick Gallam, head of the Aiken County Detention Center.

No details were released on the alleged incident except that it was reported a couple weeks ago and SLED is examining whether a criminal act occurred by the officer.

Capt. Gallam declined to release the officer’s name who was terminated, saying it was not public record.

“Until they come to a conclusion of the investigation, we are not going to release anything in the media,” Capt. Gallam said. “SLED is conducting a criminal investigation from the alleged incident.”

Capt. Gallam said his agency will notify local media organization once SLED has concluded its investigation.

UPDATED STATEMENT FROM ACSO:

On September 15th 2014, The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office received information about misconduct of a deputy that worked in the Detention Center. As a result of the internal investigation, that detention deputy was terminated from this agency for violation of multiple policies. All materials and information was turned over to SLED to investigate if there were any criminal acts. Any questions about that investigation will have to be forwarded to SLED. The officer’s name is not being released due to this being an ongoing investigation belonging to SLED. We have reviewed the email that you sent to us in regarding this incident and although we will not comment on specifics of this investigation because it is ongoing by SLED, we will confirm that no inappropriate physical contact took place between the detention deputy and this inmate.

From Sheriff Hunt: “We investigate any and all complainants against our employees and take the appropriate action swiftly. Whether it is internally or if needed, forwarded to SLED for investigation of possible criminal charges. We have 261 employees at the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and I am proud of the job that the majority do every day.”

SLED has been called in to investigate a death at the Aiken County Jail.

Deputies found inmate Derek Simpkins unresponsive in his cell about 11:35 a.m. Friday when meals were being served, the sheriff’s office said Friday afternoon in a press release.

” EMS was notified while deputies and onsite medical staff performed life saving measures until EMS arrived,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release. “EMS pronounced the inmate as deceased.  It was reported that the inmate did have a history of medical issues.”

As part of procedure, the State Law Enforcement Division was called in to conduct an investigation in the death of the 31-year-old man, in addition to the coroner’s office.

BACKGROUND: Simpkins spent much of his adult life at the detention center. He may be familiar to readers of The Jail Report, who saw him in our publication almost monthly for his repeated run-ins with law enforcement for trespassing or stealing. The Graniteville man was often was sentenced to spend 30 days in jail or pay a fine.

Unable to pay the fines, Simpkins frequently spent weeks serving those sentences inside the jail, where his medical issues were known.

On Friday, Simpkins was pronounced dead after jailers found him unresponsive inside his cell.  An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday in Newberry to determine the cause of death.

“Preliminary investigation does not suspect foul play,” Deputy Coroner Darryl Ables said.

Among Simpkins’ criminal history of charges: drug paraphernalia, petit larceny, trespassing, public disorderly conduct, shoplifting, receiving stolen goods, forgery and use of vehicle without permission.

- – -

SLED is also investigating another incident at the jail. As The Jail Report first reported Thursday, a criminal investigation is underway into a recent incident at the jail that led to the firing of a sheriff’s deputy working in the jail, according to Capt. Nick Gallam, head of the Aiken County Detention Center.

No details were released on the alleged incident except that it was reported a couple weeks ago and SLED is examining whether a criminal act occurred by the officer.

David Dempsey is wanted for Armed Robbery that occurred at the Augusta Metro Clinic, 525 Ellis Street on, April 25.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS

Please call the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 821-1020 or 821-1080

A Graniteville man accused of breaking into an Aiken woman’s home and raping her two weeks ago was captured Tuesday night.

James Dyches Sr., 33, of Shotgun Lane, was placed on the sheriff’s office Wanted List after the Oct. 2 rape. According to authorities, Dyches violated a one-year domestic-related restraining order issued May 28th against the victim and broke into her home at 1 o’clock in the morning.

The victim showed up at the local emergency room, where she told officers that she was woken up by a knock on her window. According to a sheriff’s report, the victim went to the door to answer it and Dyches rushed in and immediately pressed car keys against her neck. He threatened her life and ordered her to go to the bathroom. That’s where he “snatched her up, bent her over the sink” and raped her, the report says.

“No don’t, please stop,” the woman said repeatedly.

A 14-year-old girl in the home heard the commotion and went to the bathroom, begging Dyches to stop. But the suspect allegedly told her to shut up or he would do the same to her. So the girl ran back to her room in fear, a report says.

“The subject left the (home) after the assault and told the victim he would kill her if she said a word,” the deputy’s report says. “On her way to the hospital, the subject called several times apologizing and asking her not to call the police.”

A sexual assault kit was collected at Aiken Regional Medical Center and investigators took statements from the victim and the young girl.

Dyches remained on the run for two weeks when he was arrested and charged with burglary first-degree, violation of restraining order, kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct. He is a repeat offender who was in jail in May for criminal domestic violence. He has previous charges related to his failure to pay child support on three children. Dyches was also charged with two DUIs, driving under suspension and shoplifting, according to jail records.

UPDATE BELOW!

WGAC’s Austin Rhodes is reporting that Sheriff Richard Roundtree has started a major internal investigation concerning reports of steroid abuse among a number of his officers.

But Sheriff Roundtree has just denied that claim to The Jail Report.

“Thar’s completely false,” the sheriff said this morning. “All I know is that they (talked to) a suspect for possession of steroids, and he made the allegation that he sold to officers in the past.”

However, the suspect provided no names, dates or anything, Sheriff Roundtree said. So there is no internal investigation.

UPDATE: This was just released from Lt. Allan Rolins:

“The Richmond County Sheriff’s office has reviewed reports being posted in media outlets that there is a current investigation into steroid use by members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

“The Sheriff’s office has a potential informant that has hinted they have information about steroid use, but the informant has not supplied any information or names of any deputies. This subject has never provided any information in the past and is currently under investigation for steroid use and distribution.

“The Sheriff’s office takes this matter seriously, but there are no deputies under investigation at this time and there is no ongoing internal affairs investigation.

“If more details emerge we will provide the information at that time.”

In an Augusta homicide with more questions than answers, authorities say Emily Newbegin died from multiple blunt force trauma and drowning due to assault.

Authorities have charged 47-year-old Kenneth William Howard with murder and burglary in the death of the 33-year-old Martinez woman. She was found dead Monday night at a trailer in the Rocky Creek Mobile Home Park in Augusta.

Howard struck the victim in the head several times with “an axe like tool,” according to a warrant.

On the burglary charge, investigators say Howard “did enter a dwelling of another to commit a theft” and “gained entry to the vacant property by tampering with the lock of the front door and did not remove anything from said dwelling,” a warrant says.

Coroner Mark Bowen says the victim was found dead in a running tub of water, and it appeared she had been dead for a few hours. Deputies found the body when they were answering a call for a suspicious situation at the mobile home, according to a press release.

Questions that investigators refuse to address:

1. What was Emily doing at the Rocky Creek Mobile Home Park? Her husband reportedly last saw her on Sunday when she left their Martinez home.

2. Did Howard break into the home and discover Emily there and kill her?

3. Was this a stranger-on-stranger killing?

A spokesman for the sheriff’s office says they do not like to reveal details to the public before a case goes to trial, even if it would help ease the public’s fear.

What do you think? Has the sheriff’s office told you enough about this case?

The Paquette brothers have both been arrested overnight in the Augusta area, one for possession of steroids and weapons and the other for allegedly making threats to a Richmond County narcotics agent and his wife, according to authorities.

Brandon Paquette, 32, (left), was charged Wednesday with possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Cameron “Ryan” Paquette, 34 (right), of Appling, was charged with threatening to bash the head of RCSO Narcotics Agent Joel Danko and sexually assault his wife, authorities said. Because the Dankos live in Columbia County, he’s being held there under no bond on two felony counts of terroristic threats.

WGAC’s Austin Rhodes identified Brandon Paquette this week as the informant who claimed he was selling steroids to Richmond County deputies. But sheriff’s officials said he had not named anyone and there was no internal investigation of steroid use among officers.

Richmond County executed a search warrant Wednesday and stopped Brandon Paquette at his home on Pennsylvania Avenue. They found a significant number of vials of steroids in the suspect’s Ford pick-up truck and at his home.

According to warrants, Brandon Paquette was caught with 18 vials of Testosterone Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate, 6 vials of Testosterone Cypionate, 11 vials of Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, and 11 vials of Trenbolone Enanthate. Possession of those substances are in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

In addition, he was found with a handgun and bolt-action rifle while in possession of the illegal substances, the warrant says.

In the case of Ryan Paquette, Lt. Allan Rollins with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told WDRW-TV that Paquette was threatening Danko, because Danko arrested his brother, Brandon Paquette, during the steroid investigation.

FROM A PRESS RELEASE THAT WAS JUST SENT OUT:
“On October 22, 2014 Brandon Taylor Paquette and Cameron Ryan Paquette were arrested by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

“Brandon Paquette was arrested at the end of a narcotics related investigation and charged with Possession of Testosterone with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. This case stemmed from a search warrant at Brandon Paquette’s residence on the 1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in Augusta, GA.

“Cameron Ryan Paquette was arrested and charged with two felony counts of Terroristic Threats and Acts after threatening one of the case agents, the case agent’s wife and a witness in the case with bodily harm.  These threats were received at the residence of the agent in Columbia County, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is assisting in the investigation.

“Before he was arrested, social media alleged that Brandon Paquette was responsible for an internal investigation into steroid use in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. At the time he was originally detained, Paquette hinted that he would co-operate and supply names of deputies using steroids.  Paquette never supplied any names or provided any evidence of wrong doing by any deputies. At the time of his arrest, he invoked his right to an attorney and declined to answer any questions or make any statements. No one else has come forward with any information or evidence in this case.

“This was a narcotics investigation and there is no internal affairs investigation at this time.

“The Sheriff’s office would like to acknowledge the main stream media’s professional handling of this information.”

Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree is denying claims on local radio that he is purging personnel files of negative information for some employees.

WGAC’s Austin Rhodes said on his show Thursday that he received information the sheriff may be purging personnel records, cleaning them in an effort to improve accreditation efforts. He said it should be checked out.

Asked about the purging claims by The Jail Report, Roundtree released a statement denying the claim but not referring to Rhodes by name:

“As with the inaccurate and reckless reporting regarding a recent narcotics investigation, certain media personalities pretending to be credible news sources have again attempted to discredit the RCSO by disseminating unverified information,” Roundtree said in the statement. “The purging of personnel files is absolutely false and any person who continues to repeat such false information should be deemed sadly misinformed or a liar.”

It is the second time this week that the sheriff is denying claims by Rhodes, the afternoon talk show host. The sheriff denied Rhodes’ Facebook post on Monday that an internal investigation was underway about steroid use among RCSO deputies. Roundtree said a suspect accused of steroid possession had claimed he was providing steroids to deputies but he never named anyone. No internal investigation was ever started, the sheriff said.

An elderly woman’s death in Augusta has been called “suspicious,” authorities said.

About 4:30 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the 2000 block of Powell Avenue, near Wrightsboro Road,  in reference to a deceased person. They arrived to find a deceased elderly white female, sheriff’s Sgt. Monica Belser said in a press release.

The woman’s name was not released pending notification of kin. And there was no mention of suspects.

“This investigation is in the early stages. More details will be provided during business hours upon availability,” Sgt. Belser said in the press release.

A Halloween mask found in the car of two men during a traffic stop tied them to Thursday morning’s robbery of the Greg’s Gas Plus on Jefferson Davis Highway, authorities said.

Ronald Reco Ashley, 26, and Alvin Howard, 22, both of Jackson, were both connected to the 5:45 a.m. robbery at the convenience store.

One of the suspects walked in to the store wearing this Halloween mask (pictured). The robber presented a handgun demanding her to open the cash register, according to Sgt. Luke L. Sherman.

“The employee ran from the store without first opening the register leaving the suspect to open the drawer himself.  Being unsuccessful, the suspect stole cigarettes instead,” Sgt. Sherman said.

A vehicle description was given to officers who were canvasing the area and police observed the car with both suspects in the parking lot of Krystal’s on Martintown Road.

The men were captured during a traffic stop and positively identified by the store employee. They also found this mask.

Ashley, right picture at bottom, was charged with armed robbery, weapon possession, gun possession by a convicted felon, possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number and possession of crack cocaine.

Howard, left, was charged with unlawful carrying of a handgun and possession of crack cocaine.

Steroids suspect Brandon Paquette has handed over a list of Richmond County deputies he claims have used steroids, and the sheriff’s office is preparing to give him a lie detector test, authorities said.

Investigators re-interviewed Paquette before a bond hearing Friday and he ” implicated multiple members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, past and present, in the use of illegal steroids that dated back to 2004,” sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Shane McDaniel Sr. said in a press release.

In an effort to corroborate and validate Paquette’s statement, investigators have asked the GBI to aid in administering a polygraph examination.

“The use of polygraphs in cases where little corroborating evidence exists is commonplace.  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked to assist as an outside, independent agency, and arrangements are being made to have the test administered,” Sgt. McDaniel said. “At the conclusion of the exam and based on its findings, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will then decide in which direction to proceed.”

Sgt. McDaniel emphasized that Paquette’s claims are “unsubstantiated accusations of misconduct” against present and past deputies, and he is the only person making the claims. “Until evidence is revealed to substantiate said claims, we will not subject any deputy to undue scrutiny,” Sgt. McDaneil said.

Paquette, 32, was charged Wednesday with possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Richmond County executed a search warrant Wednesday and stopped Brandon Paquette at his home on Pennsylvania Avenue. They found a significant number of vials of steroids in the suspect’s Ford pick-up truck and at his home.

According to warrants, Brandon Paquette was caught with 18 vials of Testosterone Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate, 6 vials of Testosterone Cypionate, 11 vials of Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, and 11 vials of Trenbolone Enanthate. Possession of those substances are in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

In addition, he was found with a handgun and bolt-action rifle while in possession of the illegal substances, the warrant says.

Drug suspect Brandon Paquette has taken his polygraph examination regarding steroid use by Richmond County deputies, and the results led Sheriff Richard Roundtree to forward the case to the GBI.

In a Tuesday press release, Sheriff Roundtree did not say whether Paquette passed the test or not. But the sheriff’s office had said they planned to set him up on the lie detector test before addressing the list of names he provided of deputies he claims used steroids.

“We realize that a lot of attention has been given to this investigation via social media sites,” Sheriff Roundtree said. “Social media is a wonderful tool for sharing information, however any information regarding this particular investigation that is not reported by this agency or the GBI, should be considered opinions or speculations.”

PREVIOUS STORY FROM WEEK OF 10-22-14:

Steroids suspect Brandon Paquette has handed over a list of Richmond County deputies he claims have used steroids, and the sheriff’s office is preparing to give him a lie detector test, authorities said.

Investigators re-interviewed Paquette before a bond hearing Friday and he ” implicated multiple members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, past and present, in the use of illegal steroids that dated back to 2004,” sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Shane McDaniel Sr. said in a press release.

In an effort to corroborate and validate Paquette’s statement, investigators have asked the GBI to aid in administering a polygraph examination.

“The use of polygraphs in cases where little corroborating evidence exists is commonplace.  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked to assist as an outside, independent agency, and arrangements are being made to have the test administered,” Sgt. McDaniel said. “At the conclusion of the exam and based on its findings, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will then decide in which direction to proceed.”

Sgt. McDaniel emphasized that Paquette’s claims are “unsubstantiated accusations of misconduct” against present and past deputies, and he is the only person making the claims. “Until evidence is revealed to substantiate said claims, we will not subject any deputy to undue scrutiny,” Sgt. McDaneil said.

Paquette, 32, was charged Wednesday with possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Richmond County executed a search warrant Wednesday and stopped Brandon Paquette at his home on Pennsylvania Avenue. They found a significant number of vials of steroids in the suspect’s Ford pick-up truck and at his home.

According to warrants, Brandon Paquette was caught with 18 vials of Testosterone Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate, 6 vials of Testosterone Cypionate, 11 vials of Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, and 11 vials of Trenbolone Enanthate. Possession of those substances are in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

In addition, he was found with a handgun and bolt-action rifle while in possession of the illegal substances, the warrant says.

Two young children have been removed from an Augusta home after deputies found the residence infested with roaches and signs of drug use and knives lying all around, authorities said.

Tiffany Lee, 26, and Demikels Cooper, 28, of Bowen Drive in Augusta, were each arrested Sunday and charged with two counts of deprivation of a minor.

The case started because the couple’s 4-year-old boy got outside, climbed a gate without shoes and knocked on the neighbor’s door. They called 911. When deputies took the boy home, no one answered multiple knocks to the door but Mrs. Lee was later found inside sleeping with a 15-month-old girl awake in a baby bed.

Mrs. Lee said she thought the children’s father was watching the 4-year-old boy, but Mr. Cooper later told cops that he had left to do errands for his mother.

Meanwhile, the deputies were shocked at the condition of the home. According to the deputy’s report, this is what the officer observed:

* Roaches running everywhere, especially in the bedroom where the parents and the children slept

* Dirty clothes piled in most rooms

* Spiders and spider webs in several areas

* Rotten food in the refrigerator with roaches inside crawling on the food

* Two bedrooms covered in clothes, trash, mattresses, and unsafe objects for children

* Numerous knives lying around the residence

* Signs of marijuana use

* Exposed electrical panels

Officers called the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS), and a social worker asked officers to document the horrible conditions with photographs. The children were turned over to their grandfather and the parents were taken to jail.

Q: Why won’t Sheriff Richard Roundtree agree to test those on the list of alleged steroid users?

A: Sheriff Roundtree says there are a few reasons. If he did it, he would have to go through the county’s human resources department since the sheriff’s office has “opted in” to their program. Some sheriff’s offices in the state are independent and can conduct drug testing on their own. Richmond County is not independent.

Also, Sheriff Roundtree said he would be interfering with the GBI’s independent investigation if he started pulling in officers named on the informant’s list and began testing them or talking to them.

“If I start testing, it becomes an internal investigation,” he said.

Sheriff Roundtree said he is going to let the investigation play out and not treat any officers on the list as criminals until there is substantiated evidence to show it.

Q: Would Sheriff Roundtree support a policy requiring steroid testing of deputies?

A: “If the county changed their policy to it, I would support it 100 percent,” he said.

Q: Did accused steroid dealer Brandon Paquette make any allegations other than steroid use by deputies?

A: Yes. Sheriff Roundtree said the public might be surprised by other allegations the informant made.

“The complaints were not just illegal use of steroids. He made some other allegations,” the sheriff said, declining to be specific. “You don’t realize the magnitude of the allegations that he made.”

The sheriff said those allegations are also part of the GBI investigation.

Q: I heard that the list of officers past and present contains 39 names. Is that true?

A: No, according to the sheriff.

“It is no where near 39,” he said, declining to give the actual number.

The sheriff’s office has only said “Paquette implicated multiple members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, past and present, in the use of illegal steroids that dated back to 2004.”

Q: Has Sheriff Roundtree ever used steroids?

A: Here is his answer: “I have never used steroids. I have never used it, and I have never seen anyone use it.”

Sheriff Roundtree also said he would give the same answer on cocaine or meth.

An Augusta woman was arrested Thursday morning for bringing a loaded gun in her bag at the Augusta Regional Airport.

Cheryl Arrington, 53, is being held without bond in the Richmond County Jail on a charge of carrying a weapon or long gun at a commercial airport.

Authorities say the woman’s gun was found in her carry-on bag during an X-ray screening. She is not currently a licensed weapon’s permit holder.

The weapon was described as “a .38 special caliber, Smith and Wesson model 642 revolver, loaded with five rounds of ammunition.” According to a warrant, the traveler went “into the airport security screening checkpoint wherein prominent signs were posted clearly indicating weapons were not permitted in such area.”

Airport officials say Arrington may have been a permit holder but her permit expired. If she had accidentally brought the gun to the airport and had a current permit, TSA officials may have gone easier on her and let her secure the weapon in her vehicle.

“Because she had no valid permit, they took her to jail,” said Diane Johnston, with the airport’s marketing department.

Airport officials say a traveler can legally transport a gun if it’s checked and locked in a secure gun case.

According to Arrington’s Facebook page, she is a Mary Kay distributor, former hospital lab director and married.

A registered sex offender tried Monday to have sex with a 14-year-old boy who was using the bathroom at the Georgia Welcome Center in Augusta, authorities said.

But the boy forcefully told the man to leave and scared him off. Richmond County deputies located the offender nearby.

Donald Middleton, a 55-year-old offender from McCormick County, SC, has been charged with criminal attempted aggravated child molestation and marijuana possession.

The boy was sitting on the toilet at 4:55 p.m. Monday at the Georgia Welcome Center when a man with a deep voice and a scruffy beard and white T-shirt tried to enter the stall. He was soliciting sex from the boy, authorities say.

“Why don’t you come out and s*** my d***?” the man reportedly said. “If you don’t come out, I’m gonna break in there.”

According to a sheriff’s report, “The victim said that as bravely as he could, he asked the suspect to leave.”

The man left. The boy stood on the toilet and peered over the stall to see if the men’s room was empty. When he confirmed it was, he ran outside to his mom’s car.

Deputies were in the area and arrested the subject as he was attempting to flee in a pick-up truck.

“The Sheriff’s Office is proud of the quick thinking and immediate reaction of the deputies in apprehending this individual and removing him from the streets,” sheriff’s Lt. Allan Rollins said in a press release.

State agents have been called in to investigate an inmate’s death in the Aiken County Detention Center after a guard found the man dead with a bedsheet around his neck in his cell at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Jason Allen Woods, 38, of Aiken, was found deceased in his cell, Coroner Tim Carlton said.

According to ACDC Capt. Nick Gallam, a detention officer was conducting a routine security check when she noticed an unresponsive inmate in a cell with a bed sheet around his neck and the other end tied around a bunk.

“EMS was notified while deputies and onsite medical staff performed life saving measures until EMS arrived. EMS pronounced the inmate as deceased,” Capt. Gallam said. “As part of procedure, SLED has been called in to conduct an investigation.”

Woods was arrested on Halloween Day by the S.C. Highway Patrol for suspicion of DUI, open container and hit and run (property damage). He had been held there since. He has a previous arrest from Sept. 13 for criminal domestic violence, and he has a few DUIs on his criminal record.

“There was no evidence of foul play during the Aiken County Coroner’s Office preliminary investigation,” Carlton said.

An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday in Newberry with cause and manner of death pending.