John Patterson Hodges, a 34 year old man from Darlington, pled guilty last week in Lexington County to Attempted Murder. Hodges was sentenced to fifteen (15) years in the Department of Corrections by Circuit Court Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr. Attempted Murder is classified as a violent, most serious crime and a “no parole” offense.

Assistant Solicitor Sutania A. Fuller prosecuted the case for the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

On February 18, 2018, while at a residence in Gaston, a verbal exchange resulted in Hodges striking the victim on the back of his head with a hammer as the victim was walking away. The victim reports that he lost consciousness for a few moments. After regaining consciousness, the victim realized that Hodges was striking him with a hammer on his head, face, back, and chest areas while he was laying on the ground. Witnesses at the scene corroborated the victim’s account and told law enforcement that Hodges was kicking the victim in the chest during the attack as well.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department handled the investigation of this case. The hammer was recovered at the scene. Hodges was interviewed subsequent to his arrest and he confessed to assaulting the victim. Hodges told law enforcement that the hammer was right in his face so he grabbed it. He stated he “flipped and started hitting him.”

The victim spent several days in the hospital and was treated with a chest tube. As a result of this attack, the victim had a collapsed lung, a fractured rib, and scalp and facial lacerations.

Hodges has prior convictions for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, four counts of Burglary Second Degree – Violent, and several property crimes.