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James E. Smith
WALHALLA — The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office filed charges Monday against a 64-year-old Westminster man in connection with a cache of weapons confiscated by local and federal authorities last week.
Sheriff’s investigators charged James E. Smith Sr. with possession of a sawed-off shotgun and unlawful possession of pistols. Although it is not a crime in South Carolina to store guns, Smith’s case was different because he is a convicted felon.
Sgt. Gentry Hawk, the Sheriff’s lead investigator in the case, said local authorities and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) took possession of 83 guns and rifles stocked in a room at 120 Vanessa Drive off U.S. Highway 76 in Westminster.
Hawk said the Sheriff’s Office and ATF agents still have many questions surrounding the arsenal of weapons found on the premises. Investigators also want to know why four pipe bombs were put in a bag and buried in nearby ground. The Anderson City Bomb Disposal Unit was called in to detonate the live explosive devices.
Hawk said investigators also found a large amount of ammunition in the trailer where the guns and rifles were found.
“It’s a big investigation,” Hawk said. “It’s the largest confiscation of weapons I’ve been involved with.”
Investigators came upon the bombs and guns in an unlikely manner while responding to what appeared to be a simple domestic dispute involving brothers.
However, while getting information, Benjamin Lee Smith told officers that he and his brother had buried pipe bombs for their father about one year ago. When the bombs were uncovered, Benjamin Smith also told investigators that his father owned a bunch of guns, but that he wasn’t supposed to because he’s a convicted felon.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, James E. Smith was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in January 2003. He was awaiting a bond hearing Monday.
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Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments are subject to the site's terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Eagle Media. Readers whose comments violate the terms of use may have their comments removed or all of their content blocked from viewing by other users without notification.This man needs to be put away and get him out of society before he kills a lot of people. Then it will be too late.
This man has a right to have both sides of the story to be told. Just because the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said so, do not always believe what you read.Make sure you have all the facts before judging a man's fate.
he'll be dead long before he probably goes to trial by the looks of him
yes he probably will, he is a very sick man, looks like the sheriff's office would look more into son Ben the one who actually gave all the info. on all of this.
Don't think texas believes the Sheriff's Dept. is telling this straight. I believe all the facts should be told...and it will. However, maybe they should have called texas to make sure everything was going as he thought it should. Better yet, if texas feels this way maybe he needs to apply for a job with the Sheriff's Dept. so he can police them. Buuuut, not everyone is qualified to do this job.
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