Kashawn A. Shell, age 24, pled guilty today to Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second Degree and Attempted Armed Robbery. Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., sentenced Shell to 18 years concurrent on both charges. These charges are classified as violent, “no parole” offenses. Shell will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from the Department of Corrections.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Solicitor Rhonda Patterson. Investigator Chris Morris of the West Columbia Police Department investigated the case.

The incident occurred on December 6, 2017, at a hotel in West Columbia. The victim reported Shell pulled a handgun on her, sexually assaulted her prior to robbing her. The victim was able to give a detailed information regarding the assault and a physical description of Shell to law enforcement. 

The victim submitted to a sexual assault examination at a local hospital and DNA evidence collected supported her account of the assault. Shell was arrested on December 11, 2017, and gave a confession in which he stated “he knew the victim was afraid” and “he wanted to get caught so he could be stopped.”

Shell will be transported to the Department of Corrections to begin the immediate service of his sentence.