Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Trevon Xaiver Roberts
Brenda Padgett has undergone seven surgeries in under a year after her vehicle was struck in a head-on collision.
“I have suffered tremendously; I am still suffering every single day. Not only do I have physical problems, I am not even sure that I will ever want to drive again,” said Padgett, who is 67-years-old and of New Ellenton.
On the evening of October 11, 2022, Padgett was traveling west on Jackson Street, near Amerotron Road, in Barnwell. Traveling west at a high rate of speed, fleeing from blue lights, was 25-year-old Trevon Xaiver Roberts.
Their vehicles collided and Padgett was left with injuries such as a broken arm, wrists, elbow, ankle/foot, a dislocated shoulder, and a fractured sternum.
The chase started after law enforcement received reports of multiple individuals tampering with a car wash coin machine at a Barnwell gas station. When law enforcement arrived on scene, Roberts fled and subsequently crashed into Padgett.
Roberts was served with nine warrants stemming from this incident: Possession of a Stolen Pistol, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights Resulting in Great Bodily Harm, Failure to Comply with Lawful Direction of Police, and Felony DUI Resulting in Great Bodily Injury, along with magistrate level charges of Driving Without a License, Uninsured Motor Vehicle Violation, and Seatbelt Violation.
Over a year later, Roberts faced these charges in the Barnwell County Courthouse. On Oct. 16, 2023, Roberts pled guilty to the warrant for Failing to Stop for Blue Lights Resulting in Great Bodily Harm– a charge that carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in the state department of corrections. He was sentenced to four years with 133 days’ time served.
During the court proceedings, the solicitor’s office did not make a recommendation regarding sentencing. However, they did argue that Roberts should be sentenced to the maximum possible sentence.
According to Deputy Solicitor Leigh Staggs, the remaining eight charges were dismissed as a result of Roberts’ guilty plea and after consultation with Padgett.
“None of the other pending charges, except Felony DUI Resulting in Great Bodily Injury, carried more prison time than the charge to which Mr. Roberts entered a guilty plea,” said Staggs.
“Following plea negotiations with the defense and discussions with the victim, it was agreed that a guilty plea to the Failure to Stop charge would be an appropriate resolution,” she said.
Roberts was initially granted bond for the above nine charges totaling $43,000.
However, a motion to revoke bond was heard in a virtual courtroom on June 15, 2023 after the state learned Roberts acquired new charges in Allendale County while out on bond for Barnwell County charges.
Roberts was the victim of a shooting incident in Allendale County in April 2023. According to Staggs, this incident informed the state Roberts was actively violating the bond terms-which required house arrest (with the exception of church, doctor visits, and lawyer meetings) and GPS monitoring. Roberts was charged numerous times in relation to this incident in Allendale County.
GPS records showed Roberts traveling across the state and even to Georgia while out on bond for the Barnwell County charges stemming from the collision with Padgett. Presiding Judge Cordell Maddox subsequently revoked bond after the motion was made by the state.
“Given the totality of all these facts, and the fact that he was out on bond in one county, and is going at least driving that fast at some point that day, I would be inclined to revoke his bond,” said Judge Maddox.
From the time his bond was revoked to the Oct. 16 sentencing, Roberts was held in the Barnwell County Detention Center (BCDC).
