South-Carolina

Jurors, judge and former prison director all ask for mercy for condemned South Carolina inmate

Published

17 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Jurors, judge and former prison director all ask for mercy for condemned South Carolina inmate

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore has more than 20 people asking the governor to spare his life in a clemency petition filed Wednesday, just two days before he is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the 1999 killing of a store clerk.

There are two jurors and the judge from his original trial. There is a former director of the state prison system who says Moore deeply regrets his crime and is a force for good behind bars both for fellow inmates and his children and grandchildren.

Also asking for clemency are six childhood friends, five relatives, several former attorneys who said Moore still checks on their families after they couldn’t keep him off death row, and the partner of a psychologist whose examination of Moore led to a deep friendship for them both, according to Moore’s petition.

“I have often wondered why Richard would rather spend his life in a prison cell than end this hell he must encounter every day. When I asked him, he told me that he finds that he now has something to offer the world,” Ravi Walsh wrote in 42 pages of letters sent to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, the sole person with the power to take Moore off death row.

No governor has offered clemency to any of the 44 inmates executed in South Carolina since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the death penalty to resume in 1976. No other state has put so many inmates to death without sparing anyone.

McMaster has promised to review Moore’s petition thoroughly. As is customary, the governor has said he won’t announce his decision until minutes before Friday’s scheduled 6 p.m. EDT execution.

Moore’s lawyers said clemency is an act of grace and mercy and should mostly focus on what Moore, 59, has done since he shot and killed James Mahoney in a shootout at a Spartanburg convenience store in September 1999.

This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the state’s death chamber in Columbia, S.C., including the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left. Credit: AP/Uncredited

Moore is a born-again Christian who mentors his fellow inmates on isolated death row, and if his sentence is reduced to life without parole, his good influence can spread to many more prisoners, said Jon Ozmint, who was director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2011.

“His story and manner of living would allow him to be an influential force for good in the general population with an ability to have a positive impact on the most recalcitrant and hopeless of young offenders,” wrote Ozmint, adding he supports the death penalty and has never advocated for another inmate for clemency.

The petition includes a video with segments of an interview with Moore.

“This is definitely part of my life I wish I could change. I took a life. I took someone’s life. I broke the family of the deceased,” Moore said. “I pray for the forgiveness of that particular family.”

This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of... — This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the witness room in the execution chamber at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. Credit: AP

Prosecutors and the family of Mahoney have not spoken publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution. In the past, Mahoney’s family have said they suffered deeply and want justice to be served.

Moore’s clemency petition said his attorneys didn’t provide him with the best defense at his 2001 trial. They include a different analysis of the crime scene along with Moore’s version of what happened that shows the clerk pulled a gun on Moore after the two argued because he was 12 cents short for what he wanted to buy.

Moore said he wrestled that gun from the clerk’s hand and Mahoney pulled a second weapon. Moore was shot in the arm and fired back, killing Mahoney with a bullet to the chest. Moore then went behind the counter and stole about $1,300.

No one else on South Carolina’s death row started their crime unarmed and with no intention to kill, Moore’s current attorneys said.

Ozmint and others said the death penalty should be reserved for the worst crimes and not sought arbitrarily. Current Solicitor Barry Barnette, who was an assistant prosecutor on Moore’s case, didn’t seek the death penalty several years ago for Todd Kohlhepp, who killed seven people including a woman he raped and tortured for days.

Lawyers for Moore, who is Black, also have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution to let a lower court review whether it was fair that no African Americans were on the jury that considered Moore’s fate in Spartanburg County, which was 20% Black in the 2000 U.S. Census.

Moore’s son and daughter said he has remained engaged in their lives. He now has grandchildren whom he sees on video calls. Several letter writers mentioned the harm to them if Moore is removed from their lives.

“He does not make excuses for his actions — his only interest is staying alive so he can serve as an example to get those most at risk of going down a similar path and so he can play as much of a role as possible in the lives of his family,” son Lyndall Moore said,

In a video with the clemency petition, Ozmint said when he paid his last visit to inmates before their executions he would tell them that he would “see them on the other side.” He said the most compelling reason to give Richard Moore mercy is that he will be at peace with whatever is decided — whether he is in heaven or left on Earth to do good deeds.

“I know I’ll see Richard on the other side. I just don’t know when that will be,” Ozmint said. “I hope that Gov. McMaster will give Richard the rest of his life to pour into the lives of others.”

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South-Carolina

SEC Power Rankings: South Carolina women’s basketball set to dominate new era of conference

Published

2 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

SEC Power Rankings: South Carolina women’s basketball set to dominate new era of conference

SEC women’s basketball is back in more ways than one.

With newcomers Texas and Oklahoma, the SEC is looking stronger than ever, and it shouldn’t really be a debate about if it’s the best conference anymore. The last three national championships were won by SEC teams, including South Carolina going 38-0 last season, and the conference is only going to get more dominant.

Now, onto the preseason power rankings:

1. South Carolina

What to know: Dawn Staley’s daycare has a year of experience – and by experience, I mean an undefeated national championship run – to their credit. I have no reason to doubt the Gamecocks here.

2. LSU

What to know: Kim Mulkey’s strategy of pulling big names out of the portal has worked, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work once again, especially with Flau’jae Johnson leading the charge.

3. Texas

What to know: I’m high on Texas as Vic Schaefer returns to the SEC, but he has to face Staley and the Gamecocks twice. Just ask him how that went when he was at Mississippi State.

4. Oklahoma

What to know: The Sooners have enough redshirt seniors to fill a starting lineup, and with their experience, they’ll make a splash their first year in the SEC.

5. Ole Miss

What to know: Coach Yo has turned the Rebels into a solid SEC program, which makes it all the more confusing why she was desperate enough to hire someone on staff who would only pass an Ole Miss basketball background check.

6. Kentucky

What to know: Kentucky is ranked this high purely because of Georgia Amoore. No, I will not be explaining further.

7. Alabama

What to know: Alabama brings back all but one of its starters, so if it can’t keep its place in the upper half of the SEC, things are looking bleaker in Tuscaloosa than I thought.

8. Tennessee

What to know: There’s a new kid on the block – well, actually, make that two – at Tennessee, which is about to find out if going young and bold is the path to national relevance again.

9. Auburn

What to know: Johnnie Harris’ defense paired with a pure scorer in Taliah Scott? Yeah, sign me up. Don’t be surprised when Auburn wins some big games this season.

10. Florida

What to know: The Gators have always been a middle of the pack, not horrible, but not great, type of team, and that hasn’t changed under Kelly Rae Finley. Here’s to hoping her talented youngsters can shake things up in a good way.

11. Vanderbilt

What to know: Everyone messed around and let Shea Ralph get a roster with more depth than she has ever had at Vanderbilt. Women’s basketball might be on a Vandy football vibe this season.

12. Texas A&M

What to know: The Aggies never really reached their full potential last year and lost two starters. I can’t guarantee they’ll be exciting, but I’ll bet Joni Taylor’s defense will still give a lot of teams problems.

13. Mississippi State

What to know: I can count on one hand how many returners Mississippi State has. And maybe that’s a good thing based on how last season ended.

14. Georgia

What to know: Georgia was abysmal last season and didn’t add the players to make me believe it will be any better this season in a loaded SEC.

15. Arkansas

What to know: Mike Neighbors went international to fill some holes left by a mass exodus after last season. That’s one way to not have to deal with NIL, I guess.

16. Missouri

What to know: Missouri went from being the last team to hand South Carolina a loss in SEC play to last in the conference in two seasons. My, how times have changed and the coach hasn’t.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

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South-Carolina

Who’s in, who’s out for South Carolina football vs No. 11 Texas A&M in Week 10 SEC matchup

Published

10 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Press Room

Who’s in, who’s out for South Carolina football vs No. 11 Texas A&M in Week 10 SEC matchup

COLUMBIA — South Carolina football has a tough test Saturday against No. 11 Texas A&M, but as of Wednesday, it has a short injury report, a good sign for coach Shane Beamer.

The Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC) have been without wide receiver Jared Brown since the Ole Miss game on Oct. 5, but he is listed as probable in the first injury report of the week. He has 103 yards on eight catches this season, plus 27 rushing yards on two carries. South Carolina is coming off its second open date of the season, and most recently won on the road in Norman, beating Oklahoma 35-9.

Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0) defeated LSU 38-23 last week, and come to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday riding a seven-game winning streak.

The SEC injury report is released on Wednesday night of a conference game week and is updated each day, with a final report 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Here’s the latest injury news for both South Carolina and Texas A&M.

South Carolina football injury report vs Texas A&M

This story will be updated daily to reflect the latest information

South Carolina

OL Jakai Moore (out)
DT DeAndre Jules (out)
WR Jared Brown (probable)

Texas A&M

RB Rueben Owens (out)
DB Tyreek Chappell (out)
OL Mark Nabou Jr. (out)
OL Chase Bisontis (out)
WR Jahdae Walker (out, 1st half)
QB Jaylen Henderson (questionable)

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

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South-Carolina

BOMMER’S BEES: The South Carolina State Fair has come and gone

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2024

Press Room

BOMMER’S BEES: The South Carolina State Fair has come and gone

The South Carolina State Fair has come and gone. The hive products have been judged and there are no numbers as to when the queen was located. The normally healthy people feasted on all sorts of fried foods. Now we just need to sit back and wait for next year.

A common question at this time of the year is how one gets started in beekeeping. This time of the year, clubs are starting to have signup sheets for those interested in becoming a beekeeper. To locate your local club, go to the South Carolina Beekeepers Association website and choose a club close to you, then make contact with them where they will explain the details. Refrain from purchasing equipment until you are enrolled in the class as there are a lot of gadgets that look good but aren’t needed to begin. There are local vendors in the Williston area who would be willing to assist you with your real needs.

Recently some information has appeared on Facebook with people removing Africanized bees. Africanized bees were named by the press as killer bees. Killer bees is a comedy act. The original entry of these bees was from Brazil accidentally. They migrated into the United States located in the western states. Two other points of entry in later years were from the east coast in Florida. They have not migrated out of Florida and have only gone part way down into the Everglades. Florida has instituted a number of rules to contain them, so the answer is that they are not located in South Carolina. The bees that we manage generally are very docile. We educate to have people have their smokers and eye protection ready when working with the bees. If we get a hive which is particularly aggressive, we generally requeen the hive and that generally eliminates the problem.

Every year we cover yellow jackets at this time of the year. They are not honeybees, but are instead protein eaters and have been enjoying spiders and aphids and now the food supply is declining and their numbers are up, and when they get hungry they become aggressive. Your sandwich, barbecue and soda containers invite them to come to your deck. If a honeybee stings you one time, it will sting you one time and leave the stinger behind; whereas the yellow jacket and other wasps have a smooth stinger and drag it along and sting you multiple times. From my own personal experience, honeybee stings annoy me; whereas yellow jackets hurt.

What is going on at Allendale Correctional with their bees? With some creative and split management, we have gone from six to twelve hives. With honey production off of the cotton was very productive, but doe to Hurricane Helene we were unable to make the management practices, but at this time the bees have been treated for mites and are tucked in for winter.

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