Deputy believes justice system failed as assailant set to get new sentence

In 2005, Kevin Reed was found guilty assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Reed was pulled over during a traffic stop on Fairmont Road in Richland County in 2002 along with Aaron Harris by Sgt. Miles Weaver. Reed and Harris were both involved in a series of armed robberies at ATM machines. Reed, who was in the passenger seat during the stop, leaned back as Harris opened fire on Weaver as he approached the vehicle according to investigators.

One of the bullets struck Weaver in the left eye.

Three years later, Weaver returned to work and testified against Harris and Reed.

For his actions, Harris was sentenced to serve 27 years in prison after being charged with assault and batter with intent to kill. Reed was found guilty of a lesser charge, but Reed eventually appealed.

Reed caught a major break in his appeal process when the Clerk of Court could not find a record where the judge denied Reed's motion requesting a new trial.

This week, the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's office will allow Reed to enter a guilty plea in exchange for a sentence of as little as one year.

"The system failed Miles and that's also what makes it so bad," Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. "For 25 years, Miles has supported this justice system. He's gotten out here, he's worked hard. He almost gave his life for this system and for the system to fail him I think is a tragedy. And that's what happened."

Reed will get his new sentence on Thursday afternoon, but that will be added to the 17 years he got for the armed robbery.

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