SPARTANBURG COUNTY MAN RECEIVES 30-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR SHOOTING DEATH

A Spartanburg County man received a 30-year prison sentence today after he accepted responsibility for a shooting death.

Clifton D. Flemming, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He will serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before he is eligible for release.

Flemming admitted to shooting Shamon Martin, 19, of Spartanburg, to death on Dec. 11, 2004 at a Taylor Piedmont Road home. Martin sustained two gunshot wounds and he died 22 days later at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

When Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies responded to the crime scene about 2:45 p.m. and found Martin lying on the front porch of the home. Witnesses told deputies the shooting erupted out of a prior dispute between Martin and some of his friends. Flemming fled the crime scene after the shooting. Deputies arrested him about a month after the shooting.

Flemming’s criminal record includes convictions for false information to police, public disorderly conduct, assault & battery, second-degree burglary, strong-arm robbery and possession of crack cocaine.

“Spartanburg County is a better place to live and work with Clifton Flemming behind bars,” Assistant Solicitor Bob Coler said. “He has proven that he can’t conform to the laws of our state.”