Former Seneca businessman sent to prison

A former Seneca businessman received a prison sentence of three years for domestic crimes after his guilty plea this afternoon in the Oconee General Sessions Court.  Demetrious Campbell pleaded guilty to domestic violence first degree and pointing and presenting a firearm.  It was an incident in the home following the funeral of a family member in which Campbell’s wife, Crystal Campbell, suffered bruised ribs, scratches to the arm, and a swollen eye, according to a recitation of the case findings laid out to the judge by Blair Stoudemire, assistant solicitor.  The Campbells have five children and, according to Stoudemire, it took effort by some of their children to pull Mr. Campbell off Mrs. Campbell.  After hearing the sentence negotiated between the defense and the prosecution, Mrs. Campbell said, “I’m not pleased.”  She pleaded to the judge for a longer prison term and said an ankle monitor won’t change her husband’s behavior.  According to Mrs. Campbell, what happened in March 2022 ruined the couple’s marriage of 25 years and means that the father may no longer have contact with his wife and their children, as one of the stipulations in the sentence is a physical separation in the future of at least one thousand feet.  The sentence as read by the judge:  10 years in prison, suspended to three years’ active imprisonment, two years’ home incarceration wearing an ankle monitor, five years’ probation, no contact with the wife and children, and required mental health counseling.  Standing before the judge, Mr. Campbell expressed remorse and apologized.  As he put it, “Stuff happened and I probably didn’t handle it right.”  Defense lawyer Dunnaway said what happened not only destroyed a marriage but caused the loss of Mr. Campbell’s livelihood as a barber and a gym operator in downtown Seneca.