BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — Two more prison inmates have pleaded guilty for their roles in one of the deadliest prison riots in state history. Back in 2018, seven inmates were killed at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville.
This past summer four inmates pleaded guilty, and on Wednesday, two more did. Four originally were supposed to admit guilty in court during the hearing but in the end, just two appeared before the judge.
“We’re here today to hold people accountable, for the actions of that night,” said Bryan Stirling, Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, after the proceedings.
One of those inmates who pled guilty was Trey Blackwell.
He's currently 32 years old and has been incarcerated since he was 17. He was charged with 10 years for inciting prisoners to a riot and 5 years for criminal conspiracy; they will run concurrently.
Jody Gary also pleaded guilty. Gary has been out of prison and on house arrest for three years, Prosecutors asked for his house arrest to count toward his sentence for the charges he pleaded to Wednesday.
The judge agreed, okaying that sentence for his charges of criminal conspiracy and assault and battery by mob second-degree, meaning he’ll just serve probation.
‘He has been out for three years, he has a job and been productive, and as Solicitor [Barney] Giese says a success story in a sense he hasn’t come back and hasn’t been arrested or anything,” added Stirling.
Prosecutors say the deaths came during fights that broke out between rival gangs.
Solicitor Barney Giese says it's not shocking some of the inmates didn't want to plea. "It's pretty standard, especially with when you are dealing with inmates, you know what might be a plea one day, when they come up here it doesn't end up being a plea so that's very standard operating procedure," Giese explained.
A trial is scheduled for December 4th for another inmate who prosecutors say played a larger role in the riot, and many more have yet to be prosecuted.