A Columbia man goes to jail for many years following a violent residence invasion the place he focused his ex, the fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Workplace mentioned Thursday.
On Wednesday, a Richland County jury convicted 50-year-old William Rivers Jr., on first-degree assault and battery in addition to first-degree housebreaking expenses, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned in a information launch.
Rivers, who has twice been beforehand convicted on home violence expenses, was sentenced to 25 years in jail by Decide Robert Hood, in accordance with the discharge.
The house invasion occurred Nov. 7, 2019, in a gated Windermere subdivision in Blythewood, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned.
Shortly after returning to her residence from dinner, the feminine sufferer and her good friend have been startled by what seemed like an explosion within the storage, adopted by the sound of somebody hammering and kicking the door that led into the house, in accordance with the discharge.
The girl known as 911 earlier than listening to one other crash at her backdoor, as Rivers had smashed via a glass door and entered the house armed with two hammers, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned.
The girl had beforehand ended a two-year relationship with Rivers, in accordance with the discharge.
Rivers chased the lady via the primary flooring and up the steps to the second flooring, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned.
The sufferer’s good friend briefly subdued Rivers whereas the lady ran to her bed room after which to her rest room the place she locked the door, in accordance with the discharge.
Rivers freed himself and smashed via each the bed room and loo doorways along with his hammers, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned.
As he confronted the lady, who was then hiding in her closet, he raised a hammer over her in a threatening method earlier than her good friend once more subdued Rivers, stopping him from inflicting any severe damage, in accordance with the discharge.
Rivers was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, which led an investigation, the solicitor’s workplace mentioned.
First Assistant Solicitor Dale Scott and Assistant Solicitor Michael Bradbury prosecuted the case for the solicitor’s workplace. Jack Swerling and Alissa Leigh Wilson have been listed as Rivers’ legal professional’s, in accordance with Richland County courtroom data.
Rivers’ earlier convictions on home violence expenses have been in 1999 and 2007, courtroom data present.