Staff Writer

A Union dentist was given a probationary sentence and ordered to pay back taxes Tuesday.

Dr. Hugh Russell Caston Jr., 63, pleaded guilty to three counts of failure to pay South Carolina Income Tax. Circuit Judge Michael Nettles of Florence gave Caston a one year prison sentence and then suspended it to a $500 fine and ordered Caston to pay $21,294 in restitution to the state.

Caston was arrested on Dec. 14 and charged with 10 counts of failing to remit employee withholding taxes to the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

An investigation showed Caston had withheld $21,294 in taxes from his employees' wages from 2003-2006 but willfully failed to remit the withholding to the Department of Revenue.

Officials said at the time of Caston's arrest that he could be sentenced to five years in prison on each count and been fined up to $100,000.

Man gets seven years

A Union man was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday after admitting he sexually assaulted a girl.

Ronnie Wright Jr., 29, of 219 Morningside Drive, pleaded guilty to first- degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Nettles also ordered Wright to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison, get sex offender counseling and to have no contact with the victim.

Wright was arrested on Dec. 6, 2007 by the Union County Sheriff's Office.

A report said the victim, who is 14, told officials at Union County High School on Aug. 28 that she had been sexually assaulted. Lt. Robbie Hines and a DSS representative talked with the girl and she said Wright had assaulted her from September of 2006 until February of 2007.

Drug cases

A Union man who sold drugs to confidential informants with the sheriff's office twice in one day was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday.

Jamie Brannon, 140 Oak Grove Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Other charges against Brannon were dropped as part of his plea bargain.

A report said that on Aug. 23, Lt. John Sherfield and Lt. David Kitchens with the sheriff's office and Investigator Mickey Parker with the Union Public Safety Department provided money to an informant who went to Brannon's mobile home and bought a $20 bag of cocaine.

Later that day, Sherfield and Kitchens provided money to another informant who went to Brannon's home to buy cocaine. The informant picked Brannon up and Brannon told the informant to go to Lakeview Garden Apartments. The informant gave Brannon $40. Brannon went inside an apartment. A short time later he came out and gave the informant a bag of cocaine. The sale occurred within one-half mile of Union County High School.

On Sept. 5, Sherfield received information that Brannon was on Bobo Street in the Monarch community. Sherfield knew there were warrants for Brannon. Sherfield, Deputy Roger Hill and Deputy Jared Gilstrap went to the house to arrest Brannon. As Sherfield knocked on the front door, he could see Brannon attempting to hide out of sight of the officers. The owner of the house opened the door and was asked if Brannon was there. Brannon came out of hiding and was taken into custody.

Officers searched him and found six pink pills in his right front pocket which were a Schedule 4 Narcotic.

Sherfield walked over to where Brannon had been hiding and found a quantity of cocaine in excess of one gram.

The house was located within one-half mile of Monarch Elementary School.

Also on Tuesday, King Solomon David Gilkey, 20, of 301 Lakeside Drive was sentenced to three years in prison. He pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

A report said Sherfield received a tip that Gilkey had drugs in his possession. Sherfield, Sgt. Dee Haney, Deputy Randy Manus and Deputy Thom McAbee stopped Gilkey in his vehicle at the intersection of Fairwood Boulevard and S.C. 49.

Gilkey admitted to officers that he has illegal narcotics in his glove compartment. Officers recovered a quantity of cocaine - in excess of 10 grams- along with pills, digital scales, a pistol, clip, bullets and $980 in cash.

In another case, Benjamin Mills, 21, of 126 East Lee St., Union, pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within proximity of a school. He was given a Youthful Offender's Division sentence not to exceed six years.

Mills was arrested on Dec. 1 by the Union Public Safety Department. He was accused of selling crack to informants on West Henrietta Street and Chambers Avenue. Two of his charges were dropped as part of his plea bargain.

The following people pleaded guilty Tuesday in General Sessions Court:

Anthony Acanfora, 17, of 315 West Henrietta St., to third-degree burglary, three years suspended to 40 days, five years probation and restitution of $1,324; to petit larceny, 31 days concurrent.

Michael Fleming, 188 Short St., to distribution of marijuana, given credit for two days time served.

Jaran Harris, no address available, to indecent exposure and resisting arrest, 90 days concurrent and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Shane Hott, 3121 Lockhart Highway, Union, to purchasing marijuana, given credit for five days served and given 30 days to pay court costs.

Christopher Lamb, 141 Oakgrove Road, Union, to failure to register as a sex offender, 90 days weekend service.

Blake McMillian, 121 Cedar St., Union, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a gun by a person under 21, distribution of marijuana, simple possession of a Schedule 3 narcotic, simple possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic and resisting arrest, six months.

George Queen, 402 Summit Drive, Lockhart, to assault of a high and aggravated nature, three years suspended to one year probation.

Trenton Ray, 1418 Peach Orchard Road, Union, to distribution of cocaine, 18 months.

Kellie Richardson, 249 Fairview Circle, Union, to distribution of methamphetamine, second offense, six months.

Jeremy Toth, 310 Fairview St., Jonesville, to two counts of second- degree burglary, five years suspended to 18 months, five years of probation and restitution; to two counts of accessory after the fact of a burglary, one year concurrent.

Ashley Winzenried, 306 Hicks St., Union, to distribution of crack cocaine, 18 months.

Emily Williams, no address available, to grand larceny, six months.