10-year-old pregnant; stepfather in Abbeville facing felony charge

January 28, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE - A 10-year-old girl is seven to eight months pregnant, and her stepfather is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
According to an arrest warrant, the girl says William "Billy" Edward Ronca, 26, has been having sex with her for about a year, since she was 9. Ronca is being held at the Abbeville County jail under a $250,000 bond. He faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
The Index-Journal does not identify victims of domestic or sexual crimes.
The girl's mother said she was informed by a school guidance counselor that her daughter was acting withdrawn and not participating at school.
The mother said her sister later pointed out that the girl, described by her mother as normally warm and kind-hearted, had been showing signs of abuse that could be sexual and that she should give her a pregnancy test.
The mother said it didn't occur to her that the girl could be pregnant. She said her daughter has had a "hormonal imbalance" for several years.
"We thought she was just growing funny," said the mother, who thought the missed menstrual cycles were a sign of her daughter's body "balancing itself." " … Right now there are hormones going through her body that are the same as a 15-year-old's, so we thought it was just adolescent moodiness."
After the pregnancy test came back positive, the mother asked the girl if anyone had ever touched her in a way that would make her uncomfortable. When the girl started crying and said a name, the mother said she immediately took her to Abbeville County Memorial Hospital, where "it took just minutes to confirm that it was true."
"Once I knew it wasn't hormones, once I saw her through parental eyes that said, 'She's pregnant. There's no doubt about it …'" she said. "Who would think a 9-year-old is pregnant? The best parent in the world would not think, 'Hey, you look pregnant, let's take you to the gynecologist."
According to the warrant, the girl said Ronca told her not to tell anyone about them having sex. Her mother said the girl told the family she didn't tell anyone because she was afraid people would be mad at her.
Charlotte Ehney, program coordinator of the The Child's Place advocacy center that serves Greenwood, Abbeville and Laurens counties, said the median age for child sexual abuse is 9 years old.
"We see a lot of cases where it is a family member or someone in the home," she said. Ehney said that, in such cases, the center would refer a victim to a counselor, offer support for the non-offending caregiver and try to help the family through the legal and healing process.
"I think she's doing all right," Abbeville Police Lt. John Smith said. "I think she may have some problems, but nothing physical that we know of."
Smith said the investigation is ongoing.
The mother said she can tell her daughter is pregnant now and that "she definitely has a pregnant walk to her," but would have never guessed it before. She said it's every parent's nightmare to think you missed something so big.
The mother said she has filed for divorce from the girl's stepfather, and she said her priority is getting her daughter though physically so she can begin to heal.
"She is, of course, terrified of the birthing process," the mother said. "She has given great consideration to the fact that the baby could be harmed. She wants to see it in a loving environment."
The mother said they have decided to let a family they think "is a loving family" adopt the baby. She said the girl will be home-schooled until it is determined she is ready to live a normal life again.
"If there is any mother out there who could knowingly let their daughter suffer through this and not come to her defense, then they should be institutionalized and punished more than the perpetrator," the mother said. "It is the mother's job to protect her children, and I feel in my heart I did the best I could to keep her safe."

GHS girls top Easley

Chandler gets double-double in win

January 28, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Ashly Chandler got the ride of her life after she helped carry the Greenwood High School girls basketball team to a key Region I-AAAA victory.
Immediately after Chandler's buzzer-beating layup that secured the 58-55 win over Easley Friday night, several of the Lady Eagles hoisted their senior leader on their shoulders and carried her to the locker room.
Chandler finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, a pair of steals and a block to help the Lady Eagles (13-4 overall, 5-1 region) stay atop the region standings.
"I liked it. I've never had that happen before," Chandler said.
"They just said 'let's pick Ashly up' and they did it. I was a little worried at first because I thought I was going to fall. But it was great."
The layup, her only field goal of the second half, was vindication, of sorts, for the senior guard.
Her turnover with 17.4 seconds remaining and Greenwood up by one, 56-55, gave the Lady Green Wave one final shot at the come-from-behind win.
But after a Greenwood timeout, junior center Jacena Thompson, who spent much of the game in foul trouble, tipped an inbounds pass away from Easley's 6-foot-1 center Patrice Talley, right to Chandler, who took it cross court for the layup.
"It was tough. Those last few seconds, my heart couldn't take that," Chandler said. "Jacena made a great play with four fouls to tip the ball away. As soon as I saw her tip it, I went for the basket. The ball just came to me."
Freshman sensation Syteria Robinson led all scorers with 22 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, and had seven rebounds and four steals for the Lady Eagles.
Chandler and Robinson beared most of the load for Greenwood in the first half.
The two combined for 25 of the Lady Eagles' 31 points in the first half, including nine during a key 11-0 stretch that cut a 13-point deficit to two just before the end of the half.
Starting point guard Vijya Corbett capped the run with her only points of the night, taking a pass from Chandler and depositing the layup before the horn sounded.
Corbett's field goal brought the score to 33-31 at the half.
"That was very important," Greenwood coach Susan Thompson said of the first-half closing run. "And we were able to bring that into the second half. We preach to the girls at every halftime that the first few minutes of the second half are the most important, and they responded."
After Talley opened the third with a putback to push Easley's lead to four, the Lady Eagles went on another quick tear.
Robinson followed a layin from Keisha Simpson with back-to-back buckets to give Greenwood the 37-35 lead. It was a lead the team would not surrender.
With starters Corbett and Chandler limited to two second-half points, Jacena Thompson and Simpson - along with Robinson - picked up the slack.
Robinson scored nine in the final two quarters, while Thompson and Simpson combined to score all of their 13 points in the second half.

Lady Vikings remain in first

January 28, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Is it possible for a basketball game decided by a margin of 20 points to be a close game?
If you asked the Emerald High School girls team, the answer might be "yes."
The Lady Vikings defeated Batesburg-Leesville, 60-40, Friday night at Vikings Gymnasium. The win kept Emerald unbeaten in Region III-AA.
The Lady Vikings (13-5, 6-0) jumped out to a large lead early, and appeared ready to cruise to victory. However, the Lady Panthers made a charge late in the third quarter, going on a 9-0 run to cut Emerald's lead to 33-25 with 3 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
"I was thinking 'We might lose,'" Emerald guard Brittany Connor said. "But we recovered we changed defenses, and that got us back going again."
The defensive switch, from a 2-3 zone to a 1-2-2 zone, did indeed reverse the Lady Vikings fortunes.
The team went on a furious 15-1 run over the next 3:15 to storm out to a comfortable 48-26 lead.
Connor and Elizabeth Nicholson each poured in 16 points to lead Emerald. Samantha Boyd dumped in a game-high 18 points for Batesburg-Leesville.
Connor, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half, gave her teammates credit with getting her opportunities to score.
"We rebounded tonight, and my teammates passed the ball well," Connor said. "I was just able to get open."
The Lady Vikings foreshadowed their large margin of victory by storming out to a large lead in the first quarter.
Connor nailed both of her first half baskets in the opening moments, with both coming on fastbreak layups. Junior forward Katie Cook, most often looked to for rebounding and defense, got in on the scoring act with a 14-foot set shot from left baseline. Rachel Baggett, who subbed in for Cook and is also primarily used for the "dirty work" of the game, swished a jump shot from the top of the key to close the first quarter. The Lady Vikings held a 17-4 lead heading into the second quarter.
Emerald maintained its lead in the second quarter, despite a small push from B-L.
Connor and Nicholson continued doing damage, with each of the players raining in a 3-pointer in the quarter. However, Boyd answered with a 3 of her own, this one coming from near NBA-range. Lady Vikings Brittne Patterson's short bank shot near the end of the quarter sent Emerald to the locker room with a 30-16 halftime lead.
The Lady Vikings will play Newberry Tuesday at home.

Green Wave do in Eagles for 2nd time

January 28, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Eagles' hopes of taking sole ownership of first place in the Region I-AAAA standings were quashed after experiencing a long second-half drought.
Easley took advantage of a 9-minute, 35-second span where Greenwood made only one field goal with a big run and went on to knock off the Eagles for the second time this season, 55-52, Friday night in Greenwood.
"We're a game out of first now and this was a game we needed to win and we didn't get it done," Greenwood coach Hob Chandler said. "Now, we have to depend on some other people to help us out.
"They made shots down the stretch and we didn't. It's shots we have to make if we're to win ballgames."
The Eagles (11-8 overall, 4-2 region) enjoyed a 10-point advantage with 2:41 left in the third quarter after Larry Middleton's short floater in the lane put Greenwood up 40-30.
The team would manage only one field goal between then and the 1:55-mark of the fourth quarter.
That bucket was one of leading-scorer Andre Day's five 3-pointers. Day scored a team-high 17 points, with 14 coming in the second half.
During that stretch, the Green Wave went on a 20-4 run. Shooting guard Chris Talley drilled his third 3-pointer of the night to put the Green Wave up for good at 44-43, with 6:43 remaining.
Easley increased its lead to seven, 50-43, before the Eagles scored four straight - a free throw from Xavier Dye and a 3-pointer from A.J. Lomax.
Lomax's only points of the night cut the deficit to one field goal with 1:06 to go. After a free throw from Easley's Mike Raymond, Day went 2-of-3 from the line after being fouled on a 3-pointer. The free throws made it 51-49 with 48 seconds left.
But over the next 30 seconds, the Eagles missed two critical 3s - one from Lomax and the other from Armanti Edwards, who scored all 12 of his points in the first half.
The Green Wave followed those up by going 4-of-4 from the foul line to ice the victory.
"We have some nights where we don't shoot the ball well," Chandler said. "I thought we had some good looks, but they wouldn't fall in the second half."
Justin Todd, who scored 36 points in the first meeting, finished with a game-high 18 and eight rebounds. Talley, who had 21 in the first meeting Jan. 10, scored 13 points, while Raymond added 12.
The Eagles will look to return to their winning ways at 7:30 Tuesday night at home against Wren.

Vikings lose when they go cold at the end

January 28, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald High School boys basketball team picked the wrong time to go cold.
The Vikings went scoreless over the last 3 minutes, 12 seconds, squandering a seven-point lead and falling, 51-48, to Region III-AA rival Batesburg-Leesville Friday at Emerald. With the loss, Emerald falls to 12-8 overall, 2-4 in the region. The Vikings will host Newberry Tuesday.
"I guess if we play enough close ball games, we'll eventually win one," Emerald coach Robin Scott said.
"At the end of the game they were in a zone, and our guys were still looking to score. We just didn't get it done down the stretch." In all, it was a 10-0 run down the stretch for the Panthers, who were down 48-41 at the 3:12 mark of the fourth quarter.
Batesburg-Leesville got several key baskets down the stretch from point guard Nick Croslin, including the go-ahead hoop with just over a minute to go. Croslin led all scorers with 19 points.
"(Croslin) was excellent," Scott said.
"Don't get me wrong, Batesburg-Leesville played hard, and they deserved the win."
Dan Wideman paced Emeraldwith 12 points, while Dontrell Inman knocked in 13 for Batesburg-Leesville.
The Panthers grabbed control of the game early, using a 1-2-2 trapping defense to force Emerald into playing at their pace.
Croslin opened the contest with a 3-pointer from the right corner, setting the tone for his solid night. Emerald's William Taylor answered moments later, getting the crowd on it's feet with a two-handed slam dunk from along the left baseline. However, Croslin closed the quarter just as he opened it, with a 3-pointer. This time Croslin banked in his trey from 30-feet away, sending Batesburg-Leesville to the second quarter with a 15-11 lead.
The Panthers maintained their lead in the second quarter.
Emerald began to look inside, getting hard fought layups from Wideman and Kadarron Anderson, cutting into the Panthers advantage. As was customary throughout the evening, B-L fought back through tough defense, ripping two steals late in the half and turning both into running jumpers from Inman. The Panthers led 25-24 at halftime.
The third quarter saw B-L build its lead. Despite a 3-pointer from Nick Lanier, Emerald continue totrail thanks in large part to Croslin, who swished another pair of 18-foot pull-up jumpers in the third. Emerald trailed 37-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
"We're going to keep fighting," Scott said. "We still have plenty of work to do."

Obituaries

William R. Brown

WARE SHOALS - William Robert "Bob" Brown, 88, of 12094 Highway 25 Business, widower of Myron Meeks Brown, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 at Laurens County Hospital.
Born in Neame, Vernon Parrish, La., he was a son of the late Herman Moss and Ida Cobb Brown. He was a member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church and retired from Riegel Textile Corp.
Survivors include two daughters, Jane Brown of Ware Shoals and Robbie Sasser of Laurens; a brother, Jerry Brown of Anderson; two sisters, Mildred Burton of Greenville and Louise Schumpert of Ware Shoals; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild.
Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Marcus G. Coker.
Visitation is at the cemetery after the services.
The family is at the home of Mrs. Sasser, 127 Kingston St., Laurens.
Memorials may be made to Davis Phinney Foundation, PO Box 9831, Denver, CO 80209.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Brooks Edmonds

BELVEDERE, S.C. - Funeral services for Mr. Emerson Brooks Edmonds, 85, of Palmetto Avenue, Belvedere, SC, who died January 27, 2006, will be conducted Monday morning at 11 o'clock from the Stephen D. Posey Funeral Home. Dr. Roy L. Head officiating. Interment in Pineview Memorial Gardens with Military Honors.
Mr. Edmonds was a native of Greenwood, SC, having made Belvedere his home for the past 46 years. He was a member of Bel-Ridge Baptist Church, a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II and retired from Continental Can Company.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Berry Edmonds; three sons and daughters-in-law, Rodger and Becky Edmonds, Belvedere, Larry and Kathy Edmonds, North Augusta, and David and Tina Edmonds, Johnston; a daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Ronnie Blizzard, Belvedere; two brothers, J. B. Edmonds, Lexington, SC and Bernard Edmonds, Columbia, SC; a sister, Nannie Lou Phillips, Greenwood, SC; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be grandsons.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6.
Memorials may be made to the Bel-Ridge Baptist Church Prayer Chapel Fund, 108 Monterey Avenue, Belvedere, SC 29841. Stephen D. Posey Funeral Home of North Augusta in charge of arrangements (803-278-1181). Visit the registry online at www.poseyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Eva Mae Huffman

HONEA PATH - Eva Mae Adams Huffman, 85, of 21 E. Glendale St., died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 at Oakmont East Nursing Center, Greenville.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals.

Earline Parks

McCORMICK - Earline Parks, 51, wife of Hollie Parks, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 at the Medical College of Georgia. Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of Edward and Rose Ada Seigler Morton. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and the 378 Social Club. She attended McCormick schools and was an employee of National Textiles.
Survivors include her parents; her husband; a daughter, Eustacia Parks of McCormick; two sons, Derrick Parks of McCormick and Antonio Parks of the home; four sisters, Geraldine Blair, Mrs. Albert (Annie M.) Brown, Emma J. Blair and Mrs. Thetonia (Bridget) Blair, all of McCormick; two brothers, Edward Morton Jr. of McCormick and Andrew Dean of Atlanta; and seven grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 1469 Highway 378 E.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Madeline Chewning Robertson

AMELIA - Madeline Chewning Robertson, age 90, of Amelia, passed away on January 26, 2006. A special Christian Lady, who was just an angel that flew too close to the ground.
She was preceded in death by her parents E.W. and Sally Chewning, daughter Margaret Brissette and son William Deaton. She is survived by her son-in-law Henry Brissette, Jr. of Amelia, grandchildren, Julia Watson of Louisa, John Roddy, Henry Brissette III, Daniel Brissette, Michael Deaton, Carol Brissette; thirteen great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Brenda Dunn of GA, James Robertson of SC, and Sandra Motes of AL; nieces Betty Knowles, Susan Elliott and nephew Randy Scantling; and members of Trinity United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher.
The family will receive friends on Saturday January 28 from 7-9:00 p.m. at the Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home, 16409 Court St. in Amelia.
The funeral will be held Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Sandy Creek Baptist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Building Fund.
PAID OBITUARY

Dorothy V. Searles

McCORMICK - Services for Dorothy V. Searles are 2 p.m. Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Michael Butler, pastor. Assisting are the Revs. R.C. Holloway, Melvin Searles and Roderick Cummings. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Robert Searles, Matthew E. Searles, Bobby Gilchrist, Robert Lyons and Bruce Leverette.
Flower bearers are Mildred Robertson, Karen Freeman, Sallie Bell Calliham, along with nieces and family friends.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Walker Funeral Home.
The family is at the home, Cherry Valley Apartments.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Thomas W. Shea

DONALDS - Thomas W. Shea, 70, of 377 Bowie Road, husband of Frances K. Shea, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 at the Hospice House in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville.

Richard W. Timmons

Richard Wade Timmons, 52, of 114 Lupo Drive, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenville, he was a son of Elizabeth Newsom Timmons and the late Charles Truman Timmons. He was a graduate of Greenville High School, where he was a member of the football team, a graduate of Florence-Darlington Technical College and attended Clemson University. He was retired from plumbing contractor sales and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Greenville.
Survivors include his mother of West Columbia; a companion of the home, Sandra "Sandy" Grounsell-West; a son, Charles Adams Timmons of Easley; five stepchildren, Robin Elizabeth Wilson of Greenville, Christopher Lee Moody of Kannapolis, N.C., Jason Patrick Moody of Charlotte, N.C., Cady Nell West and Tatom West, both of Abbeville; three sisters, Anne Timmons White of Lexington, Sarah Timmons Snelson of West Columbia and Jane Timmons Starkey of Greenville; a brother, Charles T. Timmons Jr. of North Augusta.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Rock Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Randy Sloan.
Honorary escorts are members of Mason Street AA groups.
Visitation is in the church reception hall after the service.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com
Jessie Mae Wilson WARE SHOALS - Jessie Mae Jackson Wilson, 91, of 2808 Nation Road, widow of Allen Wilson Sr., died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont, Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late James "Jim" S. and Cordelia Adelaide Tolbert Jackson. She was a member of Big Bethel AME Church in Ware Shoals, where she was a former Sunday School superintendent.
Survivors include two sons, James Luther Wilson of Ware Shoals and Allen Wilson Jr. of Akron, Ohio; three daughters, Mary Wilson Vick, Doris Wilson Miller and Louise Wilson Adair, all of Pittsburg; two sisters, Irene Frazier of Ware Shoals and Annie Lee Boyd of Cheraw; 36 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 26 great-great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and a step-great-great-grandchild. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mack Hill. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons, and flower bearers are granddaughters.
Viewing begins at noon today at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
The family is at the home and the home of a son James L. Wilson, 2810 Nation Road.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge.
e of Clinton.

Jessie Mae Wilson

WARE SHOALS - Jessie Mae Jackson Wilson, 91, of 2808 Nation Road, widow of Allen Wilson Sr., died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont, Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late James "Jim" S. and Cordelia Adelaide Tolbert Jackson. She was a member of Big Bethel AME Church in Ware Shoals, where she was a former Sunday School superintendent.
Survivors include two sons, James Luther Wilson of Ware Shoals and Allen Wilson Jr. of Akron, Ohio; three daughters, Mary Wilson Vick, Doris Wilson Miller and Louise Wilson Adair, all of Pittsburg; two sisters, Irene Frazier of Ware Shoals and Annie Lee Boyd of Cheraw; 36 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 26 great-great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and a step-great-great-grandchild. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mack Hill. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons, and flower bearers are granddaughters.
Viewing begins at noon today at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
The family is at the home and the home of a son James L. Wilson, 2810 Nation Road.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge.
e of Clinton.

Opinion

Observations ...
... and other reflections

January 28, 2006

It's good to see McCormick officials informing the people there about what they say is "gang-like" activity in the area. They also say the people involved are "associates" and not gang members.
Most law enforcement agents agree that keeping the public updated is the best way to approach the problem. The Greenwood sheriff and others also have, from time to time, offered advice on gang activity.
If those involved in "gang-like" activity are called "associates," wouldn't that indicate that gang leaders elsewhere are recruiting and/or calling the shots? That may even be worse.
A gang by any other name is still a gang.

* * * * *

When a Vermont judge sentenced an admitted rapist of a six-year-old girl to only 60 days in jail, the negative fallout was immediate and nationwide. However, it was disturbing to note that some officials and others, including most of the press in Vermont, "understood" the judge's intention to force the corrections department to provide the guilty man rehabilitative treatment.
Never mind that the little girl was violated for four years. There was such an outcry, though, that the judge changed the sentence to three to 10 years, although prosecutors wanted eight to 20, assuring a tougher penalty. Under the system, the new sentence means the rapist will be out in three years.
It's still outrageous. The child was molested for four years and will be scarred for life. The rapist, though, will serve a year less than the four years the child suffered.
Justice? No way!

* * * * *

The world was shocked when Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group scored a huge election victory this week. It should be concerned as well. The group, history proves, is bad news.
S. C. Sen. Lindsey Graham said, "… The election results amount to a de-facto declaration of war by the Palestinian people against the state of Israel. It is imperative our nation redouble its commitment to the state of Israel and cautiously evaluate any future assistance to a Palestinian regime governed by terrorists."
This simply adds to the terror situation in the world and reinforces Iran, Syria and others who support terrorists. U. S. aid? It's time to reevaluate all of it. We help too many who turn it against us.