MOORE MAN RECEIVES 25-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR $3,500 DRUG DEAL

A Moore man received a 25-year prison sentence today after he admitted to taking his one-year-old son to an illegal drug deal and fleeing from Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies who were trying to arrest him.

Kandia Crate, 27, pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, trafficking crack cocaine, unlawful conduct toward a child and failure to stop for a blue light and siren moments before the start of his trial. Crate will serve 85 percent of Circuit Judge John Few’s sentence before he is eligible for release.

On Aug. 8, 2005, Crate and the police informant agreed to meet in the Linville Hills community. The informant paid $3,500 for 97 grams of cocaine and 27 grams of crack cocaine.

Deputies approached Crate moments later on Old Farm Road while he rode a moped. Crate refused to stop for the deputies’ blue light. Deputies realized that Crate had been carrying his son when they forced him to stop.

During their post-arrest search, deputies found the money, a knife, and two telephones. The baby was turned to his mother before Crate was taken to jail.

Crate’s criminal record includes a conviction for assault with intent to kill and two prior drug convictions.

“Kandia Crate’s son will be an adult by the time by the time his father is released from prison,” Assistant Solicitor Sarah Ganss said. “I hope the baby some day learns from his father’s pathetic mistakes.”