A 51-year-old Georgia woman already sitting in the Spartanburg County Detention Center on an assault and battery charge is now accused of threatening a court official, adding a second charge to a case that began with a firearm and a threat to kill. Lori Angelique Paterson, of Carrollton, Georgia, was charged with intimidation of court officials, jurors, or witnesses on September 23 while still in custody.
According to the FOX Carolina report, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed Paterson had been extradited from Georgia to Spartanburg County on the original assault and battery charge before the new count was filed.
How the Case Against Paterson Began
SLED formally charged Paterson with first-degree assault and battery on August 13, according to a statement from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. That charge stemmed from an August 10 incident in which Paterson allegedly possessed a firearm and threatened to kill a victim, per the arrest warrant tied to that case.
Investigators say a separate warrant, released more recently, alleges Paterson also used threats around that same time to intimidate or impede a court official in the discharge of their duties, attempting to obstruct the administration of justice. Paterson was charged with intimidation of court officials, jurors, or witnesses on September 23 while she remained held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
What the Charges Could Mean in Court
The new count is under South Carolina Code § 16-9-340, which makes it a felony to use threats or force to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, juror, witness, or court official, according to Justia Law. A conviction carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The first-degree assault and battery charge is a separate felony that also carries up to 10 years, per Williams and Walsh Attorneys at Law.
SLED is involved in the case, which includes an allegation of a threat against a court official.
From Georgia to the Spartanburg County Jail
Paterson is from Carrollton, Georgia, and was extradited to South Carolina.
It remains unclear whether bond has been set on the new intimidation charge.
What Comes Next in the 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office will prosecute the case.
The identity of the court official Paterson allegedly threatened has not been disclosed, and the exact nature of the threats remains unclear from the released warrants. Paterson remains held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center as the case moves toward its earliest court appearances.
