FATAL DUI WRECK & ROBBERIES LEAD TO 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR SPARTANBURG COUNTY MAN

A Spartanburg County man received a 20-year prison sentence this morning after for an drug-related wreck that claimed the life of a well-known Wofford College employee and the robbery of two local convenience stores.

William Joel Jackson, 44, of 101 Rockwood Court, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with a death, two counts of robbery and grand larceny.

Jackson caused the Jan. 29, 2004 that claimed the life of James Curtis Anderson, 66, of 1309 Wofford St. Jackson, who was driving a GMC pickup, ran a stop sign at the intersection of Williams and Center streets and slammed into the driver's side door of Anderson's four-door Buick. A bystander witnessed the wreck and he recounted what he saw in detailed written statement for the SC Highway Patrol. Jackson was driving under the influence of cocaine and other drugs at the time of the wreck.

Anderson was a long-time employee of the Wofford College maintenance department and an active community volunteer. The Anderson family was supported by nearly two dozen family and friends at the guilty plea.

Jackson also took responsibility for the Nov. 23, 2004 robbery of the Li'L Cricket Food Store convenience store on Highway 221 South and the Nov. 24, 2004 robbery of the Mini-Mart convenience store on Highway 221. He took cash and good from both businesses. He also admitted to stealing a car from a home in the Spartanburg city limits prior to the second robbery.

Jackson, who was on parole for murder at the time of the wreck, will serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before he is eligible for release. The state parole board is also expected to reconsider his parole status at an upcoming meeting in Columbia.