A Pacolet man accused of putting an obscene picture in a mailbox was tried and found not guilty Thursday.

William Todd Byars, 35, of 194 Countryside Drive was tried by a jury on a charge of communicating obscene messages to others persons without consent.

Byars was arrested on Feb. 19 by the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim in the case, Jerry Turner, told Sgt. Russell Vinson that Byars pulled up to his mailbox on Valentine’s Day and put a pornographic card in it. This was witnessed by three other people at the residence.

Robert Tessner Byars, 56, of 198 Countryside Drive, William Todd Byars’ father, shot Turner on Nov. 20, 2007 during an altercation at the Turner home. Robert Tessner Byars was found guilty of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature on Jan. 8 after a three-day trial. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Drug case

Darryl Brown, 20, of 224 Lukesville Road, Buffalo, pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday. He was given credit for time served in the Union County Jail.

Brown was arrested in “Operation Spring Clean” on April 2 and charged with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within proximity of a school. Operation Spring Clean was a joint drug investigation by the sheriff’s office, the public safety department and the Jonesville Police.

Brown also pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, second or more offense in connection with a March 16 arrest.

Also on Thursday, Paul Thomas, 35, of 5018 Cross Keys Highway, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and failing to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison. His case was prosecuted by the State Attorney General’s office because the victim in the burglary was related to a deputy with the sheriff’s office.