The Orangeburg County Grand Jury on Wednesday returned a true bill against a Santee man whose warrant for murder was dismissed earlier this week.

Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office investigators presented a direct indictment to the grand jury Wednesday morning, which resulted in a true bill, or charge, against Terrell Scott, 29.

“I’m not surprised by the actions of the grand jury,” Sheriff Larry Williams said. “They did exactly what I expected them to do.”

While not unheard of, a directed indictment before a full grand jury in a murder investigation is rare. Williams said he couldn’t recall a similar incident.

This unusual legal situation arose when Scott, who was arrested on a charge of murder, walked out of the county jail Monday after Orangeburg County Chief Magistrate Willie Robinson dismissed the warrant against him.

During a Monday hearing, Robinson agreed with defense attorney Glenn Walters that the state failed to name the victim in the text of the warrant. Afterward, Robinson said the purpose of an arraignment is to tell a defendant what he’s been charged with and “I couldn’t tell the defendant what he was charged with.”

Walters could not be reached for comment on the latest development in the legal wrangling late Wednesday.

The victim in the case is Harry Lee Mack, 21, of 258 Shadow Lawn Dr., Orangeburg. Mack died on Dec. 24 after he was dropped off at the Regional Medical Center’s emergency room doorway with a gunshot wound in his stomach.

On Wednesday, OCSO Lt. James Shumpert presented evidence to the grand jury. Williams said Shumpert was prepared to go before the jury armed with case law dealing with warrant preparation.

“I have every confidence in my deputies,” Williams said. “I knew they did a thorough investigation and prepared a case that is prosecutable. I’ve said that from the beginning, and I continue to support my deputies.”

First Circuit Assistant Solicitor Brian Jeffries said that with a direct indictment, the grand jury “kind of steps in the place of the magistrate and decides if there is sufficient evidence for a true bill.”

Jeffries added that with the true billed, direct indictment, Scott gives up his right to a preliminary hearing, which would have allowed the defense to argue before a judge on whether the case has enough evidence to proceed to a jury.

As far as Scott is concerned, the Santee man has an appointment in court next week to be arraigned for an armed robbery charge, at which time he’ll be notified the murder charge has been reinstated.

“We’re just glad the judicial process can now continue in this case,” Williams said. “I’m sure the family of the victim is relieved too. In matters like this, they are always uppermost in my mind.”

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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