Laurens, South Carolina – In a recent court trial, a Laurens man named Marcus Tyrone Grant, 46, received a 30-year prison sentence for orchestrating a brutal assault on an individual he believed to be a “snitch,” announced 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo. Grant was convicted of assault and battery by a mob as well as kidnapping by a Laurens County jury, with the verdict returned in the evening hours. The presiding Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox handed down a sentence of 30 years, with 18 years to be served actively in prison and five years on probation upon release. Due to the violent and serious nature of the crimes, Grant is not eligible for parole, given his extensive history of criminal behavior dating back to 1998.
The incident unfolded in January 2021 when Laurens Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting at Spring Street apartments in Laurens, leading to the discovery of victim Jarius Byrd, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Through their investigation, it was revealed that Byrd had been assaulted by Grant, Antone “Cheese” Blakely, and accomplices, who held him captive at gunpoint in his own apartment. Grant proceeded to inflict severe injuries upon Byrd through physical assault, motivated by Byrd’s past cooperation with law enforcement as an informant in 2010, which ultimately resulted in Grant’s conviction and incarceration for narcotics-related charges.
Shortly after the assault, officers were called back to the scene due to the fatal shooting of Byrd, which was later determined to be the act of Blakely. Blakley subsequently faced trial and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Solicitor Stumbo, alongside Deputy Solicitor Joshua Thomas, prosecuted both cases with the support of investigators and victim advocates from the 8th Circuit. Grant, represented by Hunter Blouin, received his sentence, which Stumbo and his team attributed to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the legal system in ensuring justice for the victims.
During his closing argument in court, Stumbo emphasized the importance of standing against individuals like Grant who seek to intimidate those cooperating with authorities, reaffirming his commitment to working alongside law enforcement to hold violent offenders accountable. The successful conviction and sentencing of Grant underscored the dedication of the legal and law enforcement professionals involved in bringing justice to the community, as highlighted by Solicitor Stumbo’s statements in the aftermath of the trial.