The five men charged in a Dec. 18 crime spree that shocked residents of the small towns of Denmark and Norway made a second appearance in court Wednesday.

Orangeburg County Magistrate Samuel A. Daily, after calling all five of the men to the bench, formally read warrants that charged each with one count of assault and battery with intent to kill and first-degree burglary for crimes they allegedly committed in Norway.

"Each of you have the right to have an attorney present prior to questioning," Daily said as the men stood before the bench. "You have the right to a jury trial and a preliminary hearing. But all the charges will be held in General Sessions Court."

The five men are: Darrell Cornelius Gleaton, 18, of 331 Burgdorf Lane, Springfield; Darone Derricott Jr., 18, of 5011 4th St., Washington, D.C.; Ricardo Johnson, 19, of 7015 Highview Terrace, Hyattsville, Md.; William Antonio Gleaton, 25, of 371 Samaria Road, Springfield; and Brandon Alzante Staley, 20, of 363 Samaria Road, Springfield.

Officials allege the men went on a three-hour crime spree which led to one victim being shot in Denmark and another being shot in Norway. They also allege that at one home, Darrell Gleaton forced a woman to have sex with him at gunpoint and assaulted a one-year-old.

The State Law Enforcement Division, Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office, and the Denmark and Norway police departments worked together in a 30-hour manhunt to capture the men.

The men were brought before the court by agents from the State Law Enforcement Division, who explained that they were being arraigned specifically on crimes that were committed in the town of Norway.

Other charges previously brought against the men include:

* Ricardo Johnson: armed robbery, possession of firearm during the commission of a violent crime and first-degree burglary.

* Darone Derricott Jr.: armed robbery, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and assault and battery with intent to kill.

* Brandon A. Staley: first-degree burglary, kidnapping, armed robbery, discharging a firearm in a dwelling and assault and battery with intent to kill.

* William Antonio Gleaton: armed robbery, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, first-degree burglary and pointing and presenting a firearm.

* Darrell Gleaton: possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, kidnapping, assault and battery with intent to kill, armed robbery, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree burglary.

During Wednesday's hearing, Daily asked if the state had any statements to make in reference to the possibility of bond. The SLED agents declined any comment.

He then asked if there were any statements from any of the accused. Johnson protested that his picture was being taken without his permission.

"I haven't been proven guilty of anything and my picture has been in the paper with these charges," he said.

Daily told Johnson that being charged with a crime makes one accessible to public scrutiny and gives media photographers the right to take pictures once they have acquired approval from the judge.

Daily denied bond on any of the charges to all the men, telling them a judge in General Sessions Court will have to set bond on the first-degree burglary charge. He scheduled them for appearance in General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. on March 12.

Wednesday's denial of bond was the second one for the quintet. When they appeared before Orangeburg County Chief Magistrate Willie Robinson on Dec. 22, he also denied bond on the same grounds stated by Daily.

T&D Staff Writer Thomas Brown can be reached by e-mail at tbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.