Three people plead guilty, ordered to prison in Horry County home invasion

Two men and a woman pleaded guilty Monday to charges in a Longs home invasion and were sentenced to serve 15 and 22 years in prison before the start of their trial this week, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Shannon Devante Cooper, 23, of Conway; Domenic John Merino, 27, of Myrtle Beach; and Kyla Toni Saitta, 20, of Longs, each pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, armed robbery and kidnapping in the Sept. 4, 2013, incident, according to the release.

Circuit Court Judge Benjamin H. Culbertson sentenced Saitta to 15 years on each charge, while he sentenced Merino and Cooper each to serve 22 years on each charge. Their sentences will run concurrently and they must serve 85 percent of the time before being eligible for release.

Thomas Terrell III and Lauree Richardson, assistant solicitors, had called the case for trial this week before the trio pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors said four other people were also involved in the case, but no information about their cases was available. Their charges are pending.

The group, prosecutors said, rode in a van to the victim’s home in the Longs area and forced their way inside and tied up a woman, held a gun to her head and demanded money from her while they pulled her around the house.

The group ransacked the house, and prosecutors said they stole a television, a video gaming console, a rifle and some cash, according to the release. The group then drove away in the van.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Three people plead guilty, ordered to prison in Horry County home invasion."