WINNSBORO (Nov. 13, 2015) – A Newberry man was sentenced in the Sixth Circuit Court on Oct. 27 for his role in the 2011 murder of Leon Wright, 64, of Dave Cole Road, Blair.
Judge Brian Gibbons sentenced Theory P. Maybin II, 21, to 11 years in prison after Maybin pled guilty to charges of attempted armed robbery, second-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy, according to Deputy Solicitor Riley Maxwell.
Maybin was one of eight charged in the July 23, 2011 shooting death.
On June 15, Randevious Hikeem Sims pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, first-degree burglary and attempted armed robbery. He received a 30-year sentence. Sims was just 16-years old at the time of the shooting. He was tried as an adult.
Christopher Williams also received 30 years after pleading guilty on Aug. 9, 2012 to murder, first-degree burglary, attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Charges are still pending against Fairfield County residents Chris Martin, Leonard O’Neal, Kadeem Johnson and Xavier Wadlington. Martin was charged with accessory to murder and criminal conspiracy. O’Neal, Johnson and Wadlington face charges of murder, criminal conspiracy and attempted armed robbery.
Demonta Ruff of Newberry still faces charges of murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy.
Wright’s body was discovered by a family member inside his home on July 24, 2011, the victim of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Investigators with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after the incident that the suspects, all gang members, had intended to rob a drug dealer in the vicinity of Wright’s Store on Dave Cole Road. The drug dealer failed to show up, but the suspects noticed Wright closing down his store for the evening and heading to his nearby home around 9:15 p.m.
The suspects changed their initial plans, following Wright to his home instead in a Ford Expedition driven by Maybin. Maybin parked the Expedition a short distance from the home, then he, Williams and Sims got out and knocked on Wright’s door. Before Wright could answer, the suspects kicked in the door. Williams was armed with a 7.62 MM assault rifle, Sims with a handgun.
Wright, meanwhile, had picked up a shotgun and pointed it at the suspects as they forced their way into the home. The shotgun, however, was not loaded, and both Williams and Sims opened fire, striking Wright fatally in the chest. The suspects then fled the scene.
Arrests began just days after the shooting with the final suspect, Ruff, rounded up on July 28, 2011.