D’Andre Treaun Smith, a 23 year old man from Columbia, and Warren Andre Hill, a 33 year old man from Columbia, both pled guilty this week in Lexington County for their role in an Armed Robbery at the Quality Inn.  The Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV, sentenced Smith to sixteen (16) years for the Armed Robbery with a concurrent five (5) years on his guilty plea to Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. Hill was sentenced to thirteen (13) years for his guilty plea to Armed Robbery. Armed Robbery is classified under South Carolina law as a violent crime and is a “no parole” offense.  

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard said, “These men went on a dangerous crime spree where fortunately no lives were lost. The traumatic impact of this robbery will leave a lasting impact on the lives of the victims. I am grateful for the swift work of law enforcement that led to the apprehension of these individuals.”

Senior Assistant Solicitor Angela Martin prosecuted this case for the Eleventh Circuit. During sentencing, she asked the Judge for a significant prison sentence for both men. During sentencing, one of the employees addressed the Judge stating that he still suffers from the stress of this incident and is taking anti-anxiety medication.

On April 26, 2017, Hill and Smith along with a third individual conspired to commit an armed robbery at the Quality Inn located on Augusta Highway in West Columbia. On this night around 11 p.m., Hill entered the Quality Inn and engaged in a conversation with one of the clerks. Hill questioned the clerk about the cost of renting a room and about the number of employees working at the time. The security cameras at the Quality Inn captured Hill looking around for cameras. He was also texting Smith the information he learned. Smith was waiting outside in a car along with the third individual.

Once Hill exited the lobby area of the Quality Inn, Smith enters the business with his face covered and demands money from the employees while holding them at gun point. The two clerks gave Smith the entire cash drawer that only contained a few hundred dollars. The robbery was also captured on surveillance video.

After they all fled the scene, they went into Richland County where they also were involved in other robberies of businesses.  The vehicle used in the Quality Inn robbery was the same vehicle used in robberies committed during the same time period in Richland County. The West Columbia Police Department secured confessions from both Smith and Hill. The Richland County charges were resolved at the same time as the Lexington County armed robbery. Both Hill and Smith received concurrent sentences on those charges.