CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Terry Elvis, the father of the 20-year-old woman kidnapped by Tammy Moorer in December 2013, has been found guilty of contempt of court.
During the 11-day trial for Tammy Moorer, which concluded Tuesday with two guilty verdicts, Terry Elvis yelled derogatory remarks at one of Moorer’s defense attorneys. In court Wednesday morning, attorney Casey Brown described how Terry Elvis yelled at him, calling him a “low-life,” and “a piece of s***.” Brown said the incident happened on Oct. 9, which would have been day one of testimony in Moorer’s trial, as he was walking out of the bathroom.
Terry Elvis’ attorney argued that the defense lawyer was using the bathroom on the side of the courthouse intended for the victims and the two are supposed to stay separate.
Terry Elvis said he didn’t use vulgar language, and didn’t know what charges he was facing until Wednesday morning.
“There’s so many appealable issues with this, but we just went through the trauma of this long trial and we just want it to be over with. It’s not even worth it,” said Debbie Elvis, Heather’s mother.
Terry Elvis was found guilty of contempt of court and given the option to pay a $400 fine by noon Wednesday or spend 30 days in jail. Elvis’ attorney says the fine will be paid.
The contempt of court charge comes just one day after Tammy Moorer was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the kidnapping of Heather Elvis, Terry’s daughter.
