CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A Greenville man who didn’t show up for his own criminal trial was found guilty of first-degree assault and battery for a 2012 crime.
Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson says an Horry County jury convicted a Greenville man of assault for attempting to sexually assault a woman in 2012. Tony Nevail Myers, 36, of Greenville, was tried in absentia and convicted of first-degree assault and battery for an incident on May 27, 2012.
Myers initially showed up for court, but did not return for his trial, so the judge ruled the trial would continue. After the conviction, the judge sealed Myers’ sentence until he was arrested and brought to court.
Myers was captured by by the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, agents with the State Law Enforcement Division and members of the Myrtle Beach Police Department, and on Tuesday was sentenced to serve nine years in prison.
On the date of the incident, Myers walked with the victim, whom he had just met through a mutual acquaintance, in the area of 8th Avenue North and Lumber Street in Myrtle Beach, the release states. After the victim rebuffed Myers’ advances, he grabbed her around the throat and dragged her behind a construction trailer in a dirt lot. The victim fought for her life and testified she screamed, “Help. Rape. Stop,” while Myers tried to rip her clothing off.
The victim also testified she hit Myers in the face several times and during one of those strikes, he bit her hand. Several vehicles passed by the location where the victim struggled with Myers before a Good Samaritan stopped to help and Myers ran away, the release details.
Myrtle Beach Police officers were called and during their investigation, they swabbed the victim’s hand where she was bitten. DNA from the bite matched Myers and he was arrested and charged.
