An Orangeburg funeral home owner was sentenced to 20 days in jail and ordered to pay more than $30,000 in fines and restitution after pleading guilty to multiple counts of failing to file a tax return.
Robert Bethea, owner of Bethea Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to file a tax return and was sentenced on three counts to 20 days in jail and on one more count, 20 days, $4,000 in fines and five years of probation.
Circuit Court Judge James Williams also ordered Bethea to pay the state Department of Revenue $26,304. With court costs added to the fine and restitution, the 55-year-old Bethea was ordered to pay a total of $34,986.
Bethea was arrested March 31 by officials with the South Carolina Department of Revenue on allegations that he failed to file a state tax return from 2000 to 2006.
Orangeburg attorney Charles Williams represented Bethea at the hearing on July 15 during a General Sessions term in Calhoun County. Williams was out of town Wednesday when sought for a comment.
The March arrest marked the second time in eight years Bethea has been charged with failing to report and pay state taxes.
In December 2000, DOR investigators arrested Bethea and charged him with tax evasion. He was charged with four counts of failing to file a return from 1994 to 1997 and failing to pay $5,699 on state income taxes during that period.
In June 2001, Bethea pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to file a tax return, resulting in a sentence of one year in prison, suspended to five years probation plus court costs for each charge.
Bethea was ordered to pay more than $14,000 in restitution for back taxes, penalties and interest owed for 1994-1997.
The case was prosecuted by the S.C. Attorney General's Office.
In other cases:
* Alonzo Van Keller, 41, of 235 Plantation St. NW, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and failure to stop for a blue light.
Circuit Court Judge George James sentenced Keller to five years for the assault charge and three years for failing to stop for law enforcement. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
On March 14, an Orangeburg Department of Public Safety officer was injured after he was struck by a car while attempting to arrest Keller.
At about 1:40 a.m. that day, ODPS officers heard on their radios another officer call, "The driver just hit me with the car." Then, "They just turned onto Centre Street toward Amelia," according to the incident report.
A video tape taken from PSO Kevin Brown's patrol car revealed the initial incident.
Police "watched the video of PSO Brown's traffic stop of (the subject), and it showed where (the subject) hit PSO Brown," the report states. "When (the subject) went to drive off, PSO Brown reached in to get the keys, and (the subject) hit PSO Brown."
* Chester Blaine Murdaugh, 38, of 1420 Calhoun St., Rowesville, pleaded guilty to hit and run involving personal injury and was sentenced to six months, suspended to nine months of probation.
The warrant against Murdaugh indicated he failed to immediately stop after an accident on April 12 of this year.
* Chase Wayne Hutto, 23, of 268 River Vista Drive., Cope, pleaded guilty to second-offense driving under suspension and was sentenced to 90 days and a $2,100 fine, suspended to a fine of $1,100 and six months of probation.
* Eric Bruce Lynn, 44, of Aventura, Fla., pleaded guilty to simple possession of marijuana and open container and was sentenced to a $100 fine on each.
* Lashauna R. Bryant, 26, of 3922 Hottinger Ave., North Charleston, pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
* Solomon Bryant, 31, of 175 Folly Rd., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to time served.
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com