Horry County murder suspects — including an alleged cop killer — in court to argue bond
Several Horry County murder suspects, including a man accused of killing a retired Conway police officer, made their case for bond during hearings on Thursday.
Eric Faulk is accused of murder for the shooting of James Odell Cochran, a 38-year-veteran of the department.
Chief Deputy Solicitor Scott Hixson said Cochran was Faulk’s stepfather. But, family trouble led Cochran to stay in a shed — which Hixson described as a “man cave” — on the mother’s property.
When police arrived at the shooting scene in early March, they found the retired lieutenant shot in his side and leaning over a small cooking stove.
After the shooting, Faulk took Cochran’s truck and left the area, Hixson said. It took police weeks to find and arrest Faulk.
Hixson also noted Faulk’s prior mental health issues.
Cochran’s daughter, Lutina Cochran, spoke during the hearing via phone as COVID-19 restrictions have changed the way court hearings operate.
“We have major concerns he is a flight risk and a danger to our family,” she said.
Defense Attorney Morgan Martin said Faulk has a limited criminal history and lived with his mother in Horry County.
Judge Steven John denied bond and noted his concerns about the alleged mental health issues and how it took weeks to find Faulk after the shooting.
Faulk will remain in J. Reuben Long Detention Center as he awaits trial. Coronavirus restrictions have delayed all trials to September, so there is no word on when Faulk’s case could be heard.
Sufside Beach area shooting
Anijah Robert Yarnell was charged with murder in connection to a mid-May shooting in the Surfside Beach area. The Horry County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Michael W. Pennington III, 33.
Defense Attorney Morgan Martin said there is a “Stand Your Ground” defense in the case as witnesses said Yarnell believed he was under attack at the time of the shooting.
Yarnell is a graduate of Carolina Forest High School and his mother lives in Horry County, Martin said.
“He’s not a danger to the community,” Martin said. “He’s a fine young man that conducted himself in a fine and orderly fashion until the events of this day unfolded.”
Senior Assistant Solicitor Lauree Richardson said because the case is recent, she has yet to see the police file. She said there was a domestic dispute involving Yarnell’s pregnant girlfriend in which Pennington intervened.
John set Yarnell’s bond at $75,000.
Conway area apartment shooting
Jaquan Tyrell Nichols is accused of shooting and killing Timothy Davis, 29, on Feb. 19 at the Coastal Villas apartments off S.C. Highway 544.
Nichols’ attorney Johnny Watson said the victim made threats before the shooting and there are self-defense claims in the case.
However, Assistant Solicitor Martin Spratlin said Davis was trying to escape through a doorway at the time of the shooting. There was no evidence of any bullets being fired other than the ones by Nichols.
Nichols has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for assault and battery and second-degree burglary, Spratlin said.
Citing the criminal history, John denied bond.
Dunbar Street shooting
Walter Cuttino was one of the people charged in connection to a murder on Dunbar Street in Myrtle Beach. Anthony McNeil, 23, died in an April 2019 shooting.
A judge previously set Cuttino’s bond at $125,000.
Defense attorney Barbara Pratt said Cuttino’s family could not afford the bond and said her client has been in jail for a year.
However, John said there wasn’t a change in Cuttino’s circumstances since the last time he appeared for bond and denied the request to lower the bail.
