The Sheriff’s Office overnight was serving charges on a Cross Hill man who included several driving violations this past August, an assault over three years ago and Bench Warrants citing convictions on other traffic offenses from 2009. 44-year-old Terry Lee Watts of 176 John Grant Street, Cross Hill was placed in the Johnson Detention Center at 17 minutes until midnight last night. He’s charged with traffic offenses from August including Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Driving under Suspension and Open Container. Deputy Adrian Allen states that on August 15th, 2015 Terry Lee Watts, while driving a vehicle on Leaman Street in Cross Hill, failed to stop when signaled by means of siren and/or flashing lights on a law enforcement vehicle. Watts was allegedly operating a motor vehicle on this date while his license or privilege to drive was under suspension, and Deputy Allen states that Mr. Watts has had at least one prior Driving under Suspension conviction in the past five years. Another warrant indicates that Watts had an open container of beer in the vehicle.
Terry Lee Watts was also served with a warrant yesterday charging him with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree from an alleged assault over three years ago. In that warrant, Sheriff’s Sgt. John Carter states that an investigation indicates that on July 5th, 2012 Terry Lee Watts intentionally committed a battery on another man by striking him in the right eye, causing a visible injury, on Leaman Street in Cross Hill.
Watts this morning was also served with two Bench Warrants from Laurens County Magistrate’s Court. These state he was convicted December 10th of 2009 for charges of Driving under the Influence and Driving under Suspension. He was to be brought to jail regarding sentences of 30 days on both convictions, or fines of $997 on the DUI and $652 on the DUS conviction. Earlier today he was awaiting bond hearings on the warrants just served.