Sumter Man Faces Major Penalties Following Guilty Plea
A resident of Sumter, South Carolina, Donald Ray Hurst Jr., pleaded guilty to multiple charges that could lead to decades in prison. The 35-year-old is facing serious consequences related to his admitted actions of shooting at an energy facility and possessing child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
What Happened?
Hurst’s guilty plea involves two significant offenses: destruction of an energy facility and possession of illegal content on a hard drive. The charges come with a possible maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each offense, alongside a fine that could reach $250,000, plus potential restitution and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
Where and When Did This Occur?
The incident took place on August 11, 2023, near Fish Road in Dalzell, a part of the Sumter area. Duke Energy first alerted law enforcement when several customers experienced a power outage. Upon investigation, local authorities, along with FBI agents, discovered that the power regulating equipment had been seriously damaged by gunfire.
How Did Authorities Investigate?
The energy facility’s regulator bank, a crucial component in distributing power to the community, was found with multiple bullet holes, leading to power outages affecting thousands of customers. The repair and replacement costs exceeded $100,000.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots near the facility on August 9, prompting investigators to set up a pole camera. On August 11, they confirmed that shots had been fired again, recovering a 9mm shell casing from the scene. The footage showed a white van arriving, and gunshots being fired toward the energy facility.
Who Was Involved?
With further investigation, agents traced the van’s owner, who disclosed that Hurst and another individual had access to it during the time of the shooting. A search of the vehicle uncovered a spent 9mm shell casing.
Findings at Hurst’s Home
Law enforcement later searched Hurst’s home, where they discovered a firearm in his room and another 9mm handgun locked in a safe. Forensic tests revealed that the shell casing found at the shooting scene matched the weapons registered to Hurst.
What Else Was Discovered?
While detained, Hurst was recorded discussing a hard drive that needed to be retrieved due to its potential to “get someone in trouble.” In a different call, he confessed to shooting at the energy facility and mentioned possessing images of child pornography obtained from the dark web.
The Aftermath
Agents subsequently located the hard drive and confirmed that it contained child sexual abuse material, as identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Next Steps
The case has been taken very seriously, and U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted Hurst’s guilty plea. Sentencing will take place after the review of a report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is a combined effort by multiple agencies, including the FBI’s Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and local law enforcement from both the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter Police Department. Hurst is represented by Katarzyna Timmons, an attorney from the Sumter County Public Defender’s Office.
As this is an ongoing situation, updates may arise as more details become available. Law enforcement and legal representatives are working diligently to ensure all facts are clarified.
