Miscellaneous

• South Carolina Ranks First in Violent Crime

  Pete Strom | October 01, 2007 2:35 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  Recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show that South Carolina's violent crime rate was the highest in the nation in 2006, with two areas in the top five. Rising 0.5 percent, South Carolina's violent crime rate is 765 per 100,000 people, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report for 2006. Violent crimes were up almost 2 percent nationwide. Included in violent crimes...

• Egyptian College Students Arrested in South Carolina Indicted on Terrorism Charges

  Pete Strom | September 06, 2007 1:34 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  The two Egyptian college students who were charged with having a pipe bomb in South Carolina just under a month ago have been indicted on terrorism charges.Both face indictments for carrying explosive materials across state lines, which carries a 10-year prison sentence. Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed, 24, also faces terrorism charges for teaching and demonstrating how to use the explosives in...

• Students Charged with having Pipe Bombs, Investigation Underway

  Pete Strom | August 07, 2007 4:05 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  2 University of South Florida Students were arrested Saturday near a Navy base outside of Charleston, SC for possession of an explosive device. Criminal charges were entered against Ahmed Abda Sherf Mohamed and Yousef Samir Megahed Monday for carrying explosive devices, a felony charge that carries up to 15 years. State and federal investigators are looking into the situation, but have found...

• 4 Dead and Many Missing after Minnesota Bridge Collapses

  Pete Strom | August 02, 2007 2:03 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  A major bridge located just blocks from the heart of Minneapolis collapsed during bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic Wednesday evening. Interstate 35W was an eight-lane bridge built over 40-years ago and recently received a "structurally deficient" rating, according to reports.Two lanes in each direction were closed due to construction when the bridge collapsed, and 18 construction workers fell...

• 2 Children Found Dead, Mother Charged with Homicide

  Pete Strom | August 02, 2007 10:48 AM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  Police in Hanahan, South Carolina found 2 dead toddlers Monday night after responding to a disturbance call. Their mother is now facing criminal charges. 27-year-old Semetta Heyward has been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse by Hanahan police.Police responded to a disturbance call and found Heyward yelling and crying, "Oh, my babies," according to an incident report. ...

• Attorneys Believe Indicted South Carolina Treasurer Will Not Fight Federal Criminal Charges

  Pete Strom | July 25, 2007 4:40 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel resigned Tuesday, weeks after being indicted on federal drug charges. Ravenel, who hails from a prominent South Carolina political family, appeared in United States District Court in Columbia yesterday to face charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. Authorities have made it clear that Ravenel is not charged with...

• Judge Dismisses Criminal White Collar Fraud Charges Against KPMG Former Partners

  Pete Strom | July 18, 2007 5:28 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed the criminal charges on Monday against 13 ex-employees of KMPG, an accounting firm. The former employees were charged and arrested in connection with a tax-shelter case in which they allegedly helped the wealthy escape $2.5 billion in taxes.The dismissed case was once referred to as the largest criminal tax case in U.S. history. Judge Kaplan dropped...

• Varenicline Pill May Reduce Urges to Smoke and Drink

  Jenny Albano | July 10, 2007 10:42 AM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  Varenicline, a drug currently on the market to help smokers quit, may also help curb the urge to drink. According to some new studies, rats that were conditioned to drink in excess cut their drinking in half when they were given the drug.Eighteen rates were periodically given access to alcohol for a period of four months. The researchers would introduce the alcohol and let the rats consume it...

• Social Security Disability

  Pete Strom | December 21, 2006 9:54 AM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  There is a serious misconception among today's workforce regarding what Social Security disability actually protects. Social Security disability income is a governmental program that provides monthly benefits for individuals with a substantial work history who become totally disabled from work. If, as a result of an injury, illness, or disease, a worker cannot perform any job that exists in...

• Pete Strom, Columbia Attorney

  Staff Writer | August 27, 2006 12:28 PM | 0 CommentsColumbia, SC

  Joseph Preston "Pete" Strom, Jr. was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1959. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1981 and received his J.D. from U.S.C. in 1984. Upon graduation from law school, Pete served as law clerk to the Honorable Frank Eppes, a state trial court judge. Pete then joined the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitors (District Attorney) Office as an...