BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — A corrections officer who was working the night of the deadliest prison riot in South Carolina history took the stand Wednesday in the trial of one of the inmates accused in the incident.
The testimony came Wednesday in the trial for Michael Juan Smith, who's charged with conspiracy, assault, and battery that resulted in death and possession of a weapon in prison for the April 2018 riot at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville. That riot resulted in the deaths of 7 inmates and injuries to over 20 others.
At the time of the riot, Smith was in prison for attempted murder and weapons convictions for the 2013 shooting in Columbia's Five Points that paralyzed former USC student Martha Childress. Smith's sentence for that case was overturned in July 2020, but he's awaiting a new trial.
One who testified Wednesday was Corrections Officer Clive Lopez Jr., who was on duty on April 15, 2018. He testified he had to fight off inmates that night and said he didn't feel safe putting his unit on lockdown as he attempted to lock the doors and inmates approached him.
"In my mind, I was saying I'm not going to argue with you," Lopez said about surveillance video of him with his hands in surrender position.
"You're not gonna argue with the inmate?" state prosecutor Barney Giese asked. "Why?"
"I didn't feel safe," Lopez said.
In another surveillance video, inmates lunged at Lopez with sharp objects as he attempted to patrol a dorm.
"Officer Lopez what just occurred?" Giese asked about the video.
"I took the keys off my belt and just threw them on the ground just trying to spin away from the inmate," Lopez said.
"The inmate with the weapon? Why would you do that?" Giese asked.
"I was afraid for my life," Lopez said.
The jury also heard from the lead South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigator in the case, Agent Jamie Shaw. She testified she identified and tracked inmates on the surveillance video leading up to, during, and after the assault that resulted in inmate Cornelius McClary's death.
"Obviously tracking him, to make sure everything on his outfit was the same he also has very distinguishable chin hair which were able to see in the lighting and we also asked individuals if they could identify him," Shaw said.
The state also introduced Lieutenant William Burley, who works in the contraband unit at Lee Correctional Institution. He also played a role in identifying inmates.
"Yes, ma'am that was inmate Smith," Burley said, referencing a video with Michael Juan Smith.
The state also interviewed Agent Cody Wilson with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He interviewed several inmates but testified he did not interview Smith specifically.
Testimony will continue on Thursday.