SC Tow Truck Defendant Violated Bond

Tools

By Alicia Barnes

Story Created: Oct 11, 2012 at 8:16 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 11, 2012 at 8:17 PM EDT

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities say a fake dating site profile of the Beaufort County sheriff has been traced to a defendant in a shooting.

The Island Packet of Hilton Head reports the local prosecutor traced the posting purported to be from Sheriff P.J. Tanner to the computer of Preston Oates, who is under house arrest. Tanner is married.

Authorities say Oates cannot be charged for that but did violate parole by making cellphone calls away from his home. Oates's attorney would not comment.

Whether Oates stands trial in the shooting is being appealed.

Attorneys have argued the fatal shooting in Bluffton on Christmas Eve 2010 was self-defense. They say Oates was forced out of his tow truck by 34-year-old Carlos Olivera, who threatened him and showed a handgun in a parking dispute.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

ABC Columbia and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Current Weather

Columbia
Current: 76°
Partly Cloudy
High: 76°
Low: 63°
Wind: 9 MPH
Pressure: 30.00
Humidity: 45 %

What's on WOLOTV Full Schedule