No jail for Rogers, but will miss 2015 Clemson football season |
Micah Rogers was found guilty of malicious damage under $2000 to Howard's Rock Thursday afternoon at the Pickens County Courthouse, but will not have to serve any jail time and will miss the 2015 Clemson football season due to community service.
"The sentence was the maximum sentence on the 30-day charge which was 30 days and a $1000 fine," Assistant Solicitor Baker Cleveland said. "The Judge is not going to make him do that sentence providing he pays a $750 fine after costs and assessments which will be well over $1500 and do 25 days of community service which this office will supervise. In addition to that, the judge is essentially prohibiting him from enjoying football season this year because he required 12 of those 25 days of community service are to be served on Saturdays in September, October, and November." Rogers tells the judge he is still a Clemson fan Both Cleveland and Solicitor Walt Wilkins said they respected the decision of the jury and told TigerNet that a plea deal was never discussed with Rogers. "I respect the verdict as it was," Cleveland said. "I think Solicitor Wilkins and I, we always respect the jury's verdict. This is the system we have. We have a lot of say when you are talking pleas but when you go to trial it is in the jury's hands. This is the way the system is design to work and I think in this case it worked the way it was designed. "This case was always about finding the person that damaged the rock and bring them to justice," said Wilkins. "The sentence was never something that was in consideration by this office and typically never is. That is up to judges [to decide] sentences. It's about bringing the individuals to justice and having them be responsible for their actions and in this case the jury found in our favor and Mr. Rogers is now responsible. Defense attorney Frank Eppes released a statement to TigerNet saying the family was pleased with the decision. "My client and his family respect the jury's verdict," said Eppes. "We appreciate the time and attention they put into the case. We are very pleased that his conviction was to a misdemeanor. I think the judge's sentence was appropriate given the situation and I ask that everyone continue to respect my client and his family's privacy. Thank you."
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