DILLON — A former Dillon County sheriff’s corporal accused of tampering with police evidence and assaulting his ex-girlfriend will serve five years in jail, Dillon County Clerk of Court Gwen Hyatt said.
Robert Paul Grimsley, 38, was arrested in December and charged with obstruction of justice, stalking, violating a protection order, malicious injury to property and criminal domestic violence. He pleaded guilty to the charges against him Monday at the Dillon County Courthouse, S.C. Attorney General spokesman Mark Plowden said.
Twelfth Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles sentenced Grimsley to seven years in prison, suspended to five years and three years of probation. Grimsley was given credit for 64 days of time served, but must attend counseling and stay away from the victim.
Circuit Court Judge William Seales denied Grimsley’s bond during a court hearing in January, but said a $50,000 surety bond would go into effect if his case wasn’t heard before April 20.
Investigators said Grimsley was charged with criminal domestic violence in November after he grabbed his live-in girlfriend around the neck and kicked her at his home in Latta.
Less than a month later, officials said, Grimsley violated the terms of an order of protection against him when he went to the victim’s house.
The suspect slashed her tires and was arrested a second time Dec. 22, Dillon Police Chief Joe Rogers said in an earlier report.
That day, prosecutors said, he tried to convince a police officer working the case to switch or destroy blood samples taken as evidence in the case.
The alleged victim in the case told Seales in January that the suspect would ride by her home 18 to 20 times a day in his own vehicle. At times, he would ride by her house in a car borrowed from a friend.
The victim said she was home the night the suspect showed up at her house to slash her tires.
“He saw me looking at him through the window and he still cut my tires,” she said.
The victim said the suspect’s abusive behavior had persisted for more than a year, but she continued to date him because she loved him.
“I really loved that girl, but I’m not in love with her,” Grimsley told Seales during the hearing. “She ain’t got to worry about me ... I just want to tend to my children.”
Seales appointed 4th Circuit Public Defender Rick Jones to represent Grimsley in the case.
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