2 men get life for killing Colleton deputy

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — Two men have pleaded guilty to killing a Colleton County sheriff’s deputies more than three years ago.

Jacoby Fields and Travis Harris were sentenced to life in prison without parole after their plea in Walterboro on Wednesday morning.

Fields and Harris also pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary.

They negotiated the plea deal to avoid a possible death sentence.

Deputy Dennis Compton was shot and killed when he responded to a home burglary alarm in Smoaks in 2008.

Deputies found several stolen items from previous burglaries when they searched Fields’ girlfriend’s car.