Bonds set for three of four men charged in connection with Jan. 4 slaying
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Three of four men accused of participating in the Jan. 4 shotgun slaying of a Cowpens college student had bonds set in Cherokee County Court for their possible release from jail.

In detailing allegations against the three men during bond hearings Monday, prosecutors acknowledged for the first time their belief that the fourth man involved in the slaying was the actual gunman.

Charged in the Jan. 4 slaying of 23-year-old Furman Scott Armstrong are: 20-year-old Justin Byers, 22-year-old Tomaine R. Deal, 18-year-old Chas L. Smith and 24-year-old Kelvin L. Dawkins, all of Gaffney.

Surety bond amounts of $75,000 each were set for Deal and Smith on Monday by Circuit Judge James Lockemy, while a surety bond amount of $200,000 was set for Dawkins. Each of the three men would be subject to monitoring by global positioning satellite if they post bond, the judge ruled.

During bond hearings for Deal and Smith on Monday morning, prosecutors informed the court of their belief that Byers was the one who stormed into a Fleming Road home on Jan. 4 and shot Armstrong with a shotgun.

Assistant Seventh Circuit Solicitor Michael Morin told the court it was the belief of prosecutors and investigators that Dawkins was the one who secured the shotgun and gave it to Byers; that Smith provided directions to the Fleming Road home; and that Deal provided the transportation to and from the Fleming Road home.

Morin alleges that after shooting Furman Armstrong, Byers robbed Armstrong's brother, Kendrick, and split the cash with Deal, Dawkins and Smith, with each of them receiving $700.

Attorney Bill Rhoden, who represents Deal, argued his client had no idea what was going to transpire that night. Rhoden told the court Deal called a Blacksburg police officer to talk about what happened following the incident.

Smith's attorney, Fletcher Smith, argued his client tried to talk the others out of committing the crime. "He (Chas Smith) was under duress," Smith contended.

Deal and Smith have no prior criminal records.

Bond had not been posted for any of the three men as of Tuesday, according to Cherokee County Detention Center records.

Byers is in the custody of the state Department of Corrections.