Spartanburg lawmaker wants longer prison sentences

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — A Republican state senator from Spartanburg has introduced a bill that would add five crimes to the list of offenses eligible for a life sentence in prison.

Sen. Shane Martin said Friday that he has written a bill that would add common law robbery, discharging a weapon into a dwelling and aggravated criminal domestic violence to the state’s most serious offenses.

Resisting arrest with a deadly weapon and taking a weapon from a law officer are also now on the list.

Martin approached Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright last month after Wright complained about how a suspect charged with shooting a deputy was free despite a long criminal record of domestic violence and assault and battery with intent to kill.