David Hyde, at right, shown with our illustrious sheriff, Andy Hires
RICHLAND CO.—Prosecutor David Hyde may have just seriously shit in his nest: He’s formally charged one count against the man accused of shooting Scott Earp early Sunday morning, and that charge is a single count of First-Degree Murder, filed this morning, November 23.
The other two preliminary charges with which Jenkins had been being held—Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm—have not been formally charged and apparently they have been dismissed entirely with the focus turned upon being toward actual murder.
As anyone with any knowledge of the law understands, MURDER as a charge must include INTENT.
If new information we’ve obtained this morning about the Earp/Jenkins issue is even remotely correct, the only INTENT Jenkins had was preserving his life…meaning a manslaughter charge would have been more appropriate under the circumstances. However, there’s always amending of the charges and plea deals. This is what we mean when saying Hyde may have shit in his nest….it’s always good to include lesser charges in with the big M charge…that way it looks like there is some negotiating room…and it doesn’t look like you pussied out in the end when you plead a M1 charge down to a pansyass reckless homicide. Sounds like something David Rands would do—and has. Of course, no one ever runs against Hyde for state’s attorney, so what should he care? He’s just sucking the life out of our county as he continues to give a pass to every swinging dick that comes in his courtroom except the ones who have a viable reason for their actions….as Jenkins very well might.
Jenkins is set for a status hearing December 2 at 8 a.m., a hearing which will no doubt be a complete circus as the entire criminal element of Richland County has turned up to harass us on our Facebook page for our coverage (such class acts as Jackie O. Jackson, Susan Bryan and Seth Whalen, to name but a few). So we’ll be there probably to videotape everything going on outside the courtroom and cover everything otherwise that’s going on inside….and of course, the new issue will be on stands by that time. We’re working diligently to bring information to you; but if you know of ANYTHING related to this incident, feel free to email us confidentially at disclosurenewsonline@yahoo.com.