SPARTANBURG MAN RECEIVES LIFE PRISON SENTENCE FOR ROBBERY AND ASSAULT

A Spartanburg County man received a life prison sentence today after a jury determined that he robbed and assaulted a local woman.

Noel M. Lyles, 39, was found guilty of armed robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and grand larceny at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial. He will serve every day of Circuit Judge Derham Cole’s prison sentence. He is not eligible for parole.

Lyles attacked Amy Sandifer, of Campobello, on March 3 while she walked on Rainbow Lake Road near the Ridings Road intersection. Ms. Sandifer testified that she was walking about 6 p.m. when Lyles pulled up beside her in a burgundy truck. He asked for directions before he stopped the vehicle and approached her with a full 40 –ounce beer bottle in his hand. Lyles swung the bottle and demanded her possessions. He pushed her to the ground and hit her in the face with the palm of his hand.

Two people in a passing car paused to see if everything was okay. Lyles told them everything was fine while Sandifer begged for help. After the couple drove away, Lyles used the beer bottle to hit Sandifer in the head. When Lyles attempted to pull Sandifer into the woods by her shirt, she took off her jewelry and her portable music player and gave the property to him.

Lyles fled the scene in the burgundy truck and Ms. Sandifer provided a partial license plate number. Sheriff’s deputies recovered the stolen vehicle and arrested Lyles later in the evening. He was carrying the property that he had stolen from Ms. Sandifer.

Lyles was sentenced in accordance with the state law for repeat violent offenders. His prior criminal history spanned 20 years with convictions for first-degree burglary, strong-arm robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and numerous drug convictions.

Solicitor Trey Gowdy and Principal Deputy Solicitor Barry Barnette prosecuted the trial that concluded today.

For more information, contact Murray Glenn at 809-4892.