Suspect released from prison weeks before fatal hotel shooting
A 25-year-old Darlington man who is accused of gunning down a World World II veteran was released from jail just weeks before the slaying, according to state records.
Sylvester Davis Jr. was arrested Tuesday after a brief vehicle chase in Darlington County.
Davis, along with 17-year-old Dondre Scott, each face four counts of armed robbery and murder in connection with the death of 83-year-old Clair C. Chaffin.
Chaffin, of Archer, Fla., died Monday after being shot during an attempted armed robbery at the Thunderbird Inn in Florence on Monday morning.
S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services spokesman Peter O’Boyle said Davis was released in May after serving a six-month sentence for violating his parole.
He was paroled after serving a five-year prison sentence for second-degree burglary and grand larceny convictions, O’Boyle said.
Davis, who began his prison sentence in 2005, received a one-day reduction in his sentence for every day served without incident, O’Boyle said.
This is the procedure for every prisoner serving time for such nonviolent offenses as second-degree burglary and grand larceny, O’Boyle said.
Davis’ bond was revoked because he stopped reporting to his parole officer in 2006 and was later listed as an absconder by the state Department of Corrections.
S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services apparently didn’t know Davis’ whereabouts until Oct. 30, when he was arrested by Darlington County sheriff’s deputies for public drunkenness.His address was given as 121 Sanders St., Apt. 12, when he was booked at the Darlington County Detention Center.
David and Scott will remain in custody at the Florence County Detention Center pending the outcome of an Aug. 7 bond hearing before a circuit court judge on the murder charge they each face.
Florence County Magistrate Belinda Timmons denied bond for both men on the armed robbery charges after a hearing Wednesday afternoon in Effingham, saying she felt they are a danger to society, according to a press release from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
A third person in custody will likely be charged in connection with an armed robbery involving the suspects, but not in connection with Chaffin’s death, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said in a previous interview.
The identity of that person hasn’t been released because investigators are still conducting interviews, Florence County Sheriff’s Capt. Brett Camp said Thursday.
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Reader Reactions
DarkKnight,You say people don’t normally go from larceny to murder. If a person is shoplifting with a weapon on them that tells me they plan to use it if confronted. The perps here had a stolen .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. They planned to use it if their victims resisted and they did unfortunately use it on a defenseless elderly man. I suspect that if they had not been capture there would have been more robberies by these goons and possibly more killing. I have all idea that killing Mr.Chaffin was totally unnecessary and they could have simply run away. Yes he did serve his sentences, but obviously they weren’t long enough and nothing was learned in prison. Mr. Chaffin may have been killed in a wreck in his travel, had a heart attack the same day he was killed or lived another 20 years, we will never know. I feel so sorry for all concerned except of course the animals that did this.
I do believe that these two knew exactly what they were doing. I believe that they had it all planned out! They were going to plan a robbery and they searched for a likely target. Mr. Chaffin happened to be the target! One of the suspects was 25 and the other one 17 years of age! Both knew that what they were planning and doing was wrong! But did they consider Mr. Chaffin? No! They considered making themselves richer by taking from a senior citizen! That was the only thing on their mind that day! They didn’t have the intelligence to know that they would be apprehended so quickly. But thanks to the Sheriff’s Dept. they were. The 25 year old already had a prison record and was released. He satisfied his time by the law - but did he learn anything while being in prison? It is apparent that he did not! The 17 year old knew the differnce - but chose to ignore the consequences. These actions are self-induced! They should suffer the consequences! Mr. Chaffin did not have a say-so in his death - but the thugs did! They had the choice of letting Mr. Chaffin live or die and you know the outcome!
Should they live or die? The answer is within you. But remember that these two have only been a general part of “disregarding the law”. They have no conscience, they have no morals nor do they respect anyone. They are out to please themselves with total disregard to others.
It is apparent that these two thugs are of no use to our society so therefore the quicker they are excuted the better.
Thankyou dark night. The guy was released because he satisfied his sentence. I’ve seen nothing indicating either of these 2 were out on bond.
There will be a memorial service this evening for Mr. Chaffin located on 2nd Loop, but I missed the other details, could someone post information?
One doesn’t normally go from non-violent larceny to murder. That’s why he was released. He will get death (in about 12 years), the kid will get life. But they will both have to live with what they did their remaining days.
The sorry bastards that kill Clair C. Chaffin should be made to watch that news clip a thousand times right before they are electrocuted. I hope whoever is responsible for letting that guy out of prison feel real proud of themself.Killing someone is awful, but killing a special person like this man is animalistic.
How could they let a killer back onto the streets. I understand that he is only 17, but he is old enough to know what is right from wrong. By placing him back on the streets, that’s allowing him to commit another crime. That’s not safe for our communities. They are sending a bad message to the people of the community. Where does justice come in. He kills someone and get free for a couple of days, he should have sat right in jail and await for his trial. Why make him comfortable. Lately there has been alot of robbery going on throughout the peedee area, and people work hard to have what they got, to have someone to try and take what you have away, that person should be punish to the max. Times are different now, you can’t be too soft on people.
Whatever happened to “three strikes and you’re out”? Try and hang Davis,give Scott life without parole.
Nick, thank you for the link, showing us just a little more of who Mr. Chaffin was and the good he brought to people who knew him and now those who didn’t.
May we all be a little better for the sadness and reality of this.
Again to the families, our deepest sympathy and prayers.
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