Jeffrey James Williams, age 49 of Saluda, was convicted of Threatening the Life of a Public Official by a Saluda County jury this week and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of five (5) years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The sentence was imposed by Chief Administrative Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., following the jury trial. 

On August 10, 2018, Williams called the Saluda County Magistrate’s Office and asked to leave a message for the Chief Magistrate Judge. Williams exclaimed that he wanted to “bury her, dig her back up, paint her toenails, and have sex with her.” During the phone call, Williams did not identify himself as the caller. 

Captain Josh Price and Lieutenant Stephen Byrd with the Saluda County Sherriff’s Office handled the investigation of this case and determined that Williams was possibly associated with the phone number used to make the threats by using a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s (SLED) database. Investigators then apprehended Williams at his residence just hours after the call was made and located the phone in his pocket. During the trial, phone records belonging to Williams were also presented to the jury that confirmed Williams made the threatening call.

During sentencing, the Chief Magistrate Judge addressed the Court describing the problems Williams has caused in the local community and the impact of his actions. 

Williams is currently a registered sex offender and has prior convictions for Criminal Sexual Conduct, Burglary, and Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Doug Fender of the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.