A months-long Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigation led to a Monday roundup on Fourth Street, eight men behind bars, and more arrests to come.

Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton appeared in Cherokee County Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning for several of the arrested men's bond hearings to make the court aware of what his investigators found — that three of the men taken into custody were already out on bond on other drug charges.

Luther Dawkins Jr., 36, of Fourth Street, was arrested Monday and charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within proximity of a school or playground. Blanton said Dawkins already was out on $50,000 bond for August 2006 drug distribution charges and $55,000 bond for October 2008 drug charges that have not yet come up for trial. One of the arresting officers noted in court that Dawkins also was under house arrest when they picked him up.

When given a chance to address Magistrate Michael Clary, Dawkins said he wanted a preliminary hearing. "I don't want (a new) bond," he told Clary. "Please deny it."

Clary took note and denied bond for Dawkins, later saying he had never before received such a request from a defendant.

Also arrested was Cedric Bernard Mayes, 22, of Cudd Street, who was charged with four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and four counts of distribution of crack cocaine within proximity of a school or playground. At the time of his Monday arrest, Blanton said in court, Mayes was out on a $30,000 bond for a November 2006 drug charge, a $5,000 bond for a May 2007 drug charge, a $15,000 bond for a January 2008 drug charge, and a $25,000 bond for an August 2008 charge of failure to stop for a blue light. None of those charges have been resolved yet.

Clary set Mayes' bond on the new charges at $25,000 on each count, or $200,000 total.

Michael Lee Davidson, 35, of Fourth Street, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver crack within proximity of a school or playground and two counts of distribution of crack. At the time of his arrest, Blanton said, Davidson was out on $25,000 bond for May 2008 charges related to the distribution of crack and $90,000 bond for November charges of distribution of crack.

"No sir," he told the magistrate, "I ain't got nothing to say."

He left Clary with some well wishes, however. "It's Christmas time," he said. "I just want everybody to have a good Christmas."

Clary set Davidson's bond on the new charges at $35,000 per charge, or $140,000 total.

Blanton said the investigation and arrests were part of an effort by his office to rid several streets in Gaffney of drugs, primarily from Third Street to Eighth Street. All of Monday's arrests were on Fourth Street, he said.

"Our presence (in court for the bond hearings) was to make sure the judge had all of the information at his disposal when he was setting bonds," he said.

Blanton said his office is still looking for several people and more arrests are planned. Federal investigators are involved in the process as well.

Others arrested Monday included:

— James Steen, 38, of Leadmine Street, was charged with seven drug offenses, including possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, possession with intent to deliver crack within proximity of a school or playground and possession of other controlled substances. Steen already was in jail on other charges at the time of his arrest and his bond on the new charges has not yet been set.

— Thomas Nicholas Valentine Jr., 27, of Davis Street, was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution within proximity of a school or playground. His bond was set at $20,000 per charge, or $80,000 total.

— Curtis Terrell Wilkins, 32, of Magnolia Street, was charged with distribution of crack, distribution within proximity of a school, manufacturing crack, and possession and distribution of another controlled substance. His bond was set at $60,000.

— Joshua Grant Wilson, 22, of Concord Road, was charged with three counts of distribution of crack and distribution of crack within proximity of a school. His bond was set at a total of $120,000.

— Also arrested was Brian Davidson, 30, of Fourth Street, charged with possession of marijuana. Bond had not yet been set in that case.