Florence man tried twice in absentia get 50 years in jail

A Florence man was sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison after being tried in his absence twice and disappearing for several months, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said.

Anthony Williamson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for trafficking in a cocaine base and 10 years for trafficking in a cocaine base within the proximity of a school, Clements said.

Because Williamson absconded on his bond and didn’t show up for his trial, 12th Circuit Circuit Administrative Judge Ralph King Anderson Jr. handed down a sealed sentence in April.

A week later, Williamson was tried a second time in his absence on a charge of trafficking in a cocaine base-third offense and was found guilty, Clements said.

Twelfth Circuit Judge Michael Nettles also handed down a sealed sentence which was filed with the first one with the Florence County Clerk of Court, the solicitor said.

Authorities located Williamson this month and Anderson unsealed and published the sentences Thursday.

The defense lawyers in the case argued the charge of trafficking in a cocaine base-third offense should be lowered to a lesser offense, thus decreasing the amount of jail time, Clements said.

Anderson declined to do so, he said.

“The evidence was so strong, that’s why he didn’t change the sentence,” Clements said. “(12th Circuit Assistant Solictor) Pat Parr did a good job during the sentencing.”

Parr prosecuted both cases ,which were investigated by the Florence Police Narcotics Unit, which Clements said did an outstanding job.