[SC] Sheriff's Cpl. Winningham fired and charged after reportedly pistol whipping, punching, kicking, shooting towards wife

The wife of 45-year-old OCSO [Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office] Cpl. Kenneth Winningham told investigators she was beaten with a pistol and punched over much of her body She said the man kicked her several times when she fell during the assault... The victim said her husband struck her several times with closed fists to her arms and left side. She told deputies that she also fell to the floor where the suspect kicked her several times... “She reported he told her he was going to ‘slit her throat, causing her to bleed out’ and ‘threatened to shoot her in the feet to disable her,’” the report states... Investigators say the woman had injuries including bruising and complained of tenderness to her side, knee, arms and face... The woman reportedly slipped out as her husband slept. She met Elloree Police Chief Preston Avinger, a relative, at a convenience store and called police... Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said the officer was terminated on Thursday... He was charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature... If he’s convicted of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, Winningham is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years...

Video: [SC] Sheriff's Deputy Winningham's bond set at $50,000 on aggravated criminal domestic violence

WIFE SAYS DEPUTY BEAT, THREATENED HER
The Times and Democrat
By Richard Walker
Friday, May 4, 2012
[Excerpts] Authorities are looking for an Orangeburg County Sheriff’s deputy after his wife claimed he pistol-whipped her and threatened her life during a domestic argument. The wife of 45-year-old OCSO Cpl. Kenneth Winningham told investigators she was beaten with a pistol and punched over much of her body... Elloree Police Chief Preston Avinger, who is related to the woman, and others met with the woman Wednesday night... Avinger then called Dorchester County authorities... She said the man kicked her several times when she fell during the assault. According to the report, the subject showed the woman a .45-caliber Springfield handgun at one point and fired two rounds, one going into the bed beside where the woman was seated. The subject then forced the woman to accompany him to a convenience store... “She reported he told her he was going to ‘slit her throat, causing her to bleed out’ and ‘threatened to shoot her in the feet to disable her,’” the report states. With the subject still unaccounted for, Dorchester County authorities took the woman to a different location while they went to her house to find the subject and search her house for evidence. Finding the house locked, investigators were let into the home by the subject’s father. Inside, authorities found a fired .45-caliber bullet beside a bed. They also took photographs of what appeared to be a bullet hole in the bed. The woman signed a statement asking for an order of protection and also agreed she would pursue charges against the man, the report indicates. The subject’s father was told to contact his son and tell him to contact the DCSO. Authorities say that as of late Thursday, he had not done that... [Full article here]

ORANGEBURG DEPUTY TURNS SELF IN TO DORCHESTER AUTHORITIES ON CHARGE
OF BEATING WIFE
The Charleston Post Courier
Friday, May 4, 2012
[Excerpts] An Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office deputy accused of beating his wife and shooting at her during an argument at the couple’s Ridgeville home turned himself in this afternoon. Kenneth Winningham, 42, of Ridgeville faces a charge of high and aggravated criminal domestic violence... A Dorchester County sheriff’s deputy on patrol near Carter’s Fast Stop on U.S. Highway 78 was flagged down about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday by a man who asked the deputy to speak with a woman who was being consoled by family members in the lot at the gas station.... [KSW] said her husband woke her up about 12:30 a.m. and accused her of infidelity... punched and kicked her and fired a .45-caliber handgun in her direction twice... [KSW] also said he took her cellphone, so she was unable to call 911. Dorchester deputies later searched the couple’s home and found evidence that shots had been fired in the bedroom... [Full article here]

BOND SET AT $50K FOR DEPUTY ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT WIFE
WCSC
By Ray Rivera
May 04, 2012
[Excerpts] Bond was set at $50,000 for a former sheriff's deputy accused of beating and shooting at his wife. Authorities charged 42-year-old Kenneth R. Winnigham with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature after he surrendered to the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office on Friday... Investigators say the woman had injuries including bruising and complained of tenderness to her side, knee, arms and face. The woman told deputies that she wanted to file a report... According to the victim, her husband began punching her body while she was sleeping... The victim said her husband struck her several times with closed fists to her arms and left side. She told deputies that she also fell to the floor where the suspect kicked her several times... According to deputies, the victim was seated on the edge of the bed when the suspect shot two rounds within close proximity of her. The victim told deputies that one round was discharged into the bed, a short distance from where she sat. She said she was unsure where the second round went... She said she was unable to contact 911 immediately because the suspect took her cell phone... The victim gave a written statement to officers and was escorted to the Hess Gas station in Jedburg after she consented to a search of the home. She was then left at the station with a detective for her own safety as officers went to the house... [Full article here]

DEPUTY FIRED, CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Times and Democrat
By Richard Walker
Saturday, May 5, 2012
[Excerpts] An Orangeburg County Sheriff’s deputy is facing a domestic violence charge after his wife claimed he beat and shot at her during an argument early Wednesday. Kenneth Winningham of 171 Winningham Road, Summerville, turned himself in to the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office around 1 p.m. Friday. He was charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature. The 42-year-old Winningham was a corporal with the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office. However, Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said the officer was terminated on Thursday. “Based on the investigation of an off-duty incident involving Kenneth Winningham by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, as of May 3 Winningham is no longer an employee of this agency and we have retrieved all county-owned equipment from his residence,” Ravenell said in a release... The woman reportedly slipped out as her husband slept. She met Elloree Police Chief Preston Avinger, a relative, at a convenience store and called police. Investigators found a fired .45-caliber bullet beside a bed in the house. They also took photographs of what appeared to be a bullet hole in the bed. If he’s convicted of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, Winningham is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years... [Full article here]
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