A $600,000 bond set Friday on an Orangeburg youth believed to be the ringleader in the recent series of armed robberies at area motels was a moot point after a previous bond was revoked.

At Friday's hearing, Orangeburg City Judge Barney Houser told 17-year-old Donald Lynn Sistrunk, "The city of Orangeburg has been terrorized over the last couple weeks with these robberies. Mr. Sistrunk, you have been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, armed robbery, armed robbery and armed robbery. You understand the charges?" Houser asked.

"Yes sir," Sistrunk said.

"You are entitled to a jury trial. You're entitled to have an attorney represent you," Houser said. "This is not to determine whether or not you are guilty but whether there was probable cause for warrants to be issued."

Sistrunk is one of eight individuals police say targeted Orangeburg motels for armed robbery. He is charged with four counts of armed robbery.

"We believe he's the ringleader of the group," Sheriff's Office Capt. Rene Williams said of Sistrunk.

The Maxcy Street youth was out on bond at the time of his arrest. That fact didn't escape Houser's attention.

"I believe I set that bond on you," Houser said.

Sistrunk was charged in February in connection with a strong-arm robbery incident at a Prince of Orange Mall jewelry store.

In the latest series of robberies, Sistrunk was the driver of the getaway car, according to Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Lt. Dennis Romanstine.

"We feel Mr. Sistrunk is an absolute danger to the community," Romanstine said.

"I wasn't even there (for) half of them," Sistrunk said.

Houser set bond on Sistrunk's four charges of armed robbery at $150,000 surety each. Sistrunk's previous bond was revoked, translating into a jail stay until the previous strong-arm robbery charge is resolved.

Meanwhile, bond was also set for six of the remaining seven involved in the case; the seventh, a 14-year-old male, has been sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.

n Clinton Jones, 19, of 806 Jennifer St., was charged with armed robbery. His bond was set at $150,000 surety, because of his prior conviction, and time-served in an assault and battery with intent to kill incident.

n James Jenkins, 19, of 916 Craven Lane, was charged with armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill. His bond was set at $100,000 surety for each charge, totaling $200,000.

n Antwan Brown, 21, of 267 Maxcy St., was charged with armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill. His bond was set at $100,000 surety for each charge, totaling $200,000. Brown's previous bond, however, was revoked, as he was out on bond for an assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature charge at the time of his arrest.

n Stefon Shan Anthony Russell, 17, of 140 Charlotte Circle, was charged with armed robbery. His bond was set at $150,000 surety.

n Lewis L. Thomas, 17, of 279 Maxcy St., was charged with armed robbery. His bond was set at $50,000 surety. While Thomas was out on bond on a drug charge at the time of his arrest, officers did not request the revocation of his bond because of his cooperation in the investigation.

n Harold Antonio Jones, 19, of 806 Jennifer St., was charged with armed robbery. His bond was set at $150,000 surety, due to his criminal history.

"You're 19 and already served a year for a violent crime; you've been out three months and now you're arrested for armed robbery?" Houser asked Harold Jones. "You've got a pretty violent history."

The Orangeburg youths are charged in a series of armed robberies that police say began June 22 at the Southern Lodge and ended with the joint city and county task force arrests of the youths on Wednesday and Thursday.

The T&D previously reported that the Slumberland Motel had been a victim of one of the armed robberies, but that information from police was incorrect. Slumberland Motel was not involved in the incidents, OCSO Maj. Barbara Walters said Friday.

Along with about 15 friends and family members of the accused, several victims sat in the courtroom awaiting the judge's bond decisions.

"That's wonderful that they're in prison," said Chris Mehta, owner of Days Inn on St. Matthews Road and Sun Moon Inn on John C. Calhoun Drive, as he left the courtroom. Days Inn was hit Saturday morning, and Sun Moon Inn was first robbed Sunday and another robbery attempt was made there again on Tuesday.

Kenny Patel was one of the men shot at during Tuesday's confrontation behind the Dairy-O after what may have been an attempted armed robbery at the Sun Moon Inn. Prahladbai Patel, 42, was shot in the face during the incident.

Investigators say they have recovered a .38 caliber handgun.

While he has returned to work, Kenny Patel says he tries not to think about the incident and is glad to see the youths off the streets.

It was around 7 p.m. Tuesday when the two Patels were at the Sun Moon Inn and saw two men running into the woods. Kenny Patel said he and his uncle got into their car and followed the individuals to a location behind Dairy-O.

One of the men dropped the gun as Patel and his uncle attempted to confront them.

"I tried to kick if off," he said. "He (one of the subjects) picked it up really quickly."

After running some distance, Patel said the gunman turned around and fired.

"He was lucky," Patel said of his uncle. "It was about an inch away from his brain.

"This is the first time it has ever happened to me like this. After they were caught, it gave me a little bit of a relief," he said.

You must be logged in to comment.