Sentencing postponed for 8 charged in holdup

Today's scheduled sentencing of a group of Wando High School students arrested in the armed robbery of a Mount Pleasant Food Lion was postponed because of the death of an Upstate judge.

Charleston Circuit Judge Roger Young delayed the hearing to attend the funeral for Circuit Judge James W. Johnson Jr., in Clinton.

Johnson died after a battle with cancer.

Eight local teens were charged in the August 2006 holdup of the Mount Pleasant grocery where they acted mostly as lookouts in cars parked around the store. At least seven of the youths were scheduled to be sentenced today inside the Charleston County Judicial Center.

The group pleaded guilty late last year, but their sentencing was put on hold while pre- sentencing reports were done on each teen, and for them to finish education requirements.

The teens pleaded to charges that include conspiracy to commit armed robbery and accessory after the fact.

Possible punishments range from probation to some form of incarceration.

A new sentencing time will be set based on the schedules of the judge and the multiple defense attorneys involved. It could be as soon as next week.

The teens took part in the Aug. 26, 2006, holdup of the Food Lion on South Morgan's Point Road. They acted as lookouts in cars parked near the store while a classmate wearing an orange mask went inside armed with what was later determined to be a pellet gun. He forced an employee to open a safe and left with an undisclosed amount of money in a duffel bag.

The lead culprits in the robbery and associated crimes, Michael Anthony, 19, and Sean Shevlino, 17, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 10 years.

Johnson had been a judge in the 8th Judicial Circuit since 1992. Before that he was a member of the S.C. House of Representatives for seven years.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.