Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office

06/11/2026

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson and staff offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of former Horry County Sheriff Arlon Small, who passed away this week.

"During his tenure, Mr. Small, who started his law enforcement career as a deputy and then became Sheriff, kept our community safe and laid the foundation for the incredible Horry County Sheriff's Office we have today," Richardson said. "We offer prayers and condolences to his family."

Mr. Small joined the Horry County Sheriff's Office in the 1960's and served as a deputy for 26 years before becoming Horry County's Sheriff in 1988. He was sheriff until 1992, when he retired after 30 years of faithful service.

06/10/2026

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson wishes the best to Bill Pierce, the Georgetown Police Department Police Chief, who is retiring on Friday after 34 years of law enforcement service to our community.

"What an accomplishment to serve for 34 years," Richardson said. "We appreciate all that Bill has done for the citizens over the years and how he has assisted the Solicitor's Office. We wish him the best in this next chapter of his life."

Pierce most recently served as Chief of the Georgetown Police Department. Last week, the city named Nelson Brown to take over the reins from Pierce.

Today, during the monthly 15th Circuit Chief’s Association meeting Horry County Sheriff's Office's Sheriff Phillip Thompson and Richardson presented Pierce with a small token of their appreciation for his service.

06/10/2026

MYRTLE BEACH MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON IN FATAL DUI CRASH

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson announced that on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a Myrtle Beach man pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence resulting in death.

Michael Wagner, 38, of Myrtle Beach, pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony DUI resulting in death, which is a violent and serious offense, said Brandon Lanier, the assistant solicitor who prosecuted the case for the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

The Honorable Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles presided over the hearing and sentenced Wagner to 10 years in prison. Wagner must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for supervised release. Wagner will have one strike under South Carolina’s three-strike law, which makes him eligible to be sentenced to life without parole, should he ever be convicted of two other serious offenses.

The charges stemmed from a deadly crash that occurred about 1:40 p.m. on May 19, 2025, in the Myrtle Beach area when Wagner, driving with a 0.21 blood alcohol concentration, was speeding down S.C. 31 southbound in a Dodge 3500 work van. Wagner was headed home from a job when he failed to maintain his lane and struck the back of the victim’s sedan, causing it to flip and crash into the wooded area off the side of the road near the mile 14 marker.

The victim, Richard “Mike” Nicholson, 84, of Murrells Inlet, died instantly. Nicholson, a Navy veteran, spent 30 years working for the Federal Government in a variety of leadership roles, including at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Department of Homeland Security.

Wagner drove away from the scene but was found passed out in a convenience store parking lot, with open containers in his vehicle, by South Carolina Highway Patrol Troopers.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) investigated the crash and reconstructed the crash, in large part due to the dash camera of a motorist, which recorded the entire event.

“On Tuesday, June 9th, 2026, Michael Wagner was the second person to plead to felony DUI resulting in death and receive a decade-long sentence, in a case all too familiar to the other,” Lanier said. “This deadly crash happened just over a month after the previous case, both defendants were grossly impaired before noon, and both killed remarkably distinguished men, who were simply trying to get home. The victim in this case, Mr. Nicholson, was a public servant who dedicated his entire life to this country. His family is expectedly devastated by his loss. The sentence is only a slight reprieve. Our hope is that this case will serve as a reminder to those who use alcohol, and to those who sell it, that drinking and driving is never the right choice. We appreciate the Highway Patrol for their work on this case.”

06/10/2026

LITTLE RIVER WOMAN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATAL CRASH

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson announced that on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a Little River woman pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence resulting in death. This comes two months after her federal conviction.

Kayla Tisdale, 38, of Little River, pleaded guilty Tuesday as part of a negotiated agreement to felony DUI resulting in death, which is a violent and serious offense, said Brandon Lanier, the assistant solicitor who prosecuted the case for the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

The Honorable Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles presided over the hearing and sentenced Tisdale to 14 years in prison. Tisdale must serve at least 85 percent of her sentence before she is eligible for supervised release. Tisdale will have one strike under South Carolina’s three-strike law, which makes her eligible to be sentenced to life without parole if she is convicted of two other violent offenses.

Tisdale is also awaiting sentencing on her federal charge. In April, Tisdale pleaded guilty to a federal charge of misprision of a felony for keeping $750,000 in cash and gold bullion as part of an illegal scheme linked to drug trafficking.

The state charges that Tisdale pleaded guilty to on Tuesday stemmed from a deadly crash that occurred about 1:30 p.m. on April 4, 2025, on Sea Mountain Highway in North Myrtle Beach. Tisdale drove with a 0.19 blood alcohol concentration and failed to yield to a motorcyclist.

Steven Marshall, 62, who had retired after more than 20 years in law enforcement, had moved to the Myrtle Beach area from Pennsylvania a few years prior and was killed almost instantly in the crash. Tisdale left the scene and picked up her daughter from elementary school before she was arrested by Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol as she pulled up to a house.

Troopers noted Tisdale had signs of gross intoxication, and search warrants were signed for her blood. The South Carolina Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) investigated the crash and found Tisdale at fault. Her blood alcohol content level was almost three times higher than the legal limit of 0.08.

Tisdale admitted she had been drinking since 8:30 a.m. that morning because of her ongoing federal investigation. Tisdale said Tuesday that she did not remember purchasing her last drink from Circle K, which was caught on surveillance video. The defendant was identified as the driver because witnesses at the scene took pictures of her license plate when she fled.

“This case serves as a stark reminder of the perils that stem from drinking and driving. Our community lost a career public servant, who spent the better part of 20 years attempting to save lives, simply because Ms. Tisdale chose to become grossly impaired before 9:00 a.m. that day,” Lanier said. “Today, we have no winners. Mr. Marshall’s family will never be made whole, and Ms. Tisdale’s young daughter will grow up without her mother at a pivotal point in her life. We are grateful to the witnesses who assisted the Highway Patrol in locating Ms. Tisdale, and we hope that this lengthy prison sentence will deter those who think about drinking and driving from ever doing so in the future.”

06/09/2026

CONWAY MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ARMED ROBBERY, DRUGS

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson announced that on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a Conway man pleaded guilty to armed robbery and trafficking fentanyl before his trial was set to begin on July 20.

Taejohn Shaheem Johnson, 30, of Conway, pleaded guilty Tuesday to armed robbery and first-offense trafficking fentanyl four to 14 grams, said Jonathan Rogers, the assistant solicitor who prosecuted the case for the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

The Honorable Circuit Court Judge Michael G. Nettles presided over the hearing and sentenced Johnson to 12 years in prison for armed robbery and the trafficking fentanyl these sentences to run concurrently. Johnson must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence and will have two strikes under South Carolina’s three-strikes law, meaning that if he is convicted of any other serious charge, he could be sentenced to life without parole.

The armed robbery charge stemmed from Oct. 25, 2025, in Conway when Johnson lured the victim into a house. Once inside, Johnson showed a gun and, along with two co-defendants, robbed the victim of his cash and jewelry. The victim was able to leave once the robbery was finished and later identified Johnson through a photo lineup. Charges are pending for the co-defendants.

The drug charge stemmed from Nov. 26, 2025, in the Myrtle Beach area of Horry County. When South Carolina Highway Patrol Troopers tried to stop a white Chrysler 300 being driven by Johnson for failing to maintain lanes. When troopers initiated blue lights, the Chrysler drove away at a high rate of speed before crashing into a light pole.

Johnson got out of the wrecked vehicle and tried to run away, but officers were able to catch him. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a pill bottle that contained a white powdery substance believed to be fentanyl.

Then, while being booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Facility during a strip search, officers found a purple powdery substance believed to be fentanyl on Johnson. The total weight of the fentanyl found in the car and on Johnson was 22.1 grams.

“A special thanks goes out to Heather Edge with the Horry County Police Department and Highway Patrol Trooper Connor Barr for their hard work in these cases,” Rogers said. “I believe that these cases highlight the connection between the drug trade and other violent crimes. I hope that the length of this sentence, along with the two strikes, will not only deter Johnson from future criminal behavior but will send a message to the community that drug dealing and violent crimes will not be tolerated in Horry County.”

06/08/2026

This week, June 8, 2026, Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson discusses graduation safety for recent high school and college graduates, and asks you to exercise your freedom to vote for your candidate of choice tomorrow on Election Day.

This week, June 8, 2026, Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richards...

06/05/2026

MYRTLE BEACH MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRUGS

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson announced that on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a Myrtle Beach man pleaded guilty to drug charges instead of going to trial. The trial, which was scheduled for later in June, is no longer necessary.

Travon Douglas Haskins, 24, of Myrtle Beach, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute co***ne and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, said Joshua Holford, the senior assistant solicitor, who, along with Blaine Massey, an assistant solicitor, prosecuted the case for the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Both were first-offense drug convictions.

The Honorable Circuit Court Judge David Caraker presided over the hearing and sentenced Haskins to 10 years in prison for each offense. The sentences will run concurrently. The maximum sentence Haskins could have received for possession with intent to distribute co***ne or methamphetamine was 15 years.

In April 2025, the Horry County Police Department's Narcotics Division, along with the SWAT team, executed a search warrant at Haskin’s home. Officers located large amounts of methamphetamine and co***ne, along with M**A, crack co***ne, ma*****na, fi****ms, a digital scale, and cash.

"A special thanks goes to Detective Reisinger, Detective Church, and other officers with the Narcotics Division for their hard work and for removing large amounts of narcotics from circulation," Holford said. "Although Haskins had no prior convictions for any narcotics offenses, he had obviously been involved in a major drug distribution operation. Most offenders think the first conviction for drugs means they’ll walk away without major consequences, but this 24-year-old will now be spending significant time in prison for his first offense."

06/03/2026

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson wishes the best to an assistant solicitor who left the Horry County office to go into private practice.

Blaine Massey, who started with the office in October 2023, worked in General Sessions Court in Horry County. His last day was Tuesday.

"Blaine has been a valuable member of our team, and we appreciate his hard work for the citizens of Horry County," Richardson said. "We wish him the best in his future."

Blaine will be joining his father, Kenneth Massey, in private practice in Conway.

06/01/2026

This week, June 1, 2026, Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson discusses guilty pleas from last week's trial roster and a couple of other noteworthy cases that resulted in prison sentences for the defendants.

This week, June 1, 2026, Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richards...

05/28/2026

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson appreciates Victim Advocate Laura Montoy-Bernal taking time out of her busy schedule today to speak to kids at Homewood Elementary School for their career day.

"Investment in our future takes time, and we must lead for the next generation to follow," Richardson said. "I appreciate Laura spending time with the kids today to teach them a little about what we do daily."

The Solicitor's Office appreciates Horry County Schools for hosting a career day for their students at Homewood Elementary School.