Professional Swindler Set Free Despite Nine Pending Charges Against Him

Charleston County's jail is up to its usual antics with the release of Andrew M. Carroll -- a known thief with nine pending felony charges against him -- for possession of crystal methamphetamine on personal recognizance bond. Magistrate John Kenney is responsible for the hasty decision.

The case of Mr. Carroll is unlike anything we have witnessed in recent memory. Out of the nine charges pending against him, four relate to motor vehicle theft and burglary, and three are tied to drug possession charges. And all were accumulated over four bookings in a two-and-a-half month time period.

The rest of his criminal record is somewhat predictable. In 2015 alone, Mr. Carroll was trotted off to jail ten times on charges that lead to convictions for stealing six vehicles, receiving stolen goods and assault on a police officer. And within the thick of it all, he spent two weeks behind bars before going to trial which would result in a three year prison stint.

Encompassing Mr. Carroll's history is a laundry list of felony offenses across two counties. As his prison sentence came to a close, it became evident that he was the same man before it began. Crime followed him like a raging illness, doing harm to everything in its wake as he would be jailed seven times more.

Mr. Carroll is confined to a rare breed of criminal; a high-level offender with a penchant to steal to no end and continue the pattern while state prosecutors build a case against him. His dismal record indicates that he is not a suitable candidate for a second chance -- and there is no place for him in our community.

This is problematic for several reasons. It shows that legal repercussions have no bearing on Mr. Carroll -- there is no fine too large, no sentence too great. He has demonstrated disregard for what binds us together, instead choosing a path fraught with depravity and greed. It is a common theme in criminal minds, and pinpoints the Charleston Court System's failure to protect us.

The specter of Mr. Carroll committing new crimes was heightened by Judge Kenney's decision to cut him loose. And what are the drawbacks from this on the community at large? There is an argument to be made that crime will increase in lockstep with the bail reform policies that have lead us to this point. If a dozen convictions and a stay in prison can't convince a judge to make the right call -- what can?

Andrew Carroll, unless the subject of a life-altering experience, will not turn his life around. But maybe -- just maybe -- holding him to account would be enough to spark a culture change in Charleston. Change would inevitably bring bail reform to an end and replace it with something practical and merit-based. We are the authors of our future -- sign our pledge and make it bright!


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One thought on “Professional Swindler Set Free Despite Nine Pending Charges Against Him”

  1. This is Andrew Carroll y’all do not know a thing about me for y’all to sit there and slander my name like that is straight bull didn’t I pay my debt to society who are y’all two even sit there and write this article I am a father of four children who lost a wife in 2012 I may have done some wrong in my life but y’all act like I am a straight lifetime convict no fine is too large no sentence is too long where do you get that from I am sitting here trying to take care of for children maybe if y’all did Jose research y’all would see that half of the stuff that I was charged with I was actually innocent on but yet y’all don’t do the correct research I do not appreciate your posting this I do not appreciate your slandering my name I am a good stand-up person I have lived in Charleston community my entire life I am 31 years of age I was born at roper st. Francis hospital right there in West Ashley I have a high school diploma I have four beautiful children three girls one boy I’ve had a rough life and in doing my best to straighten things out I am innocent on many of my charges and have not even been found guilty on the ones that are pending now and for y’all to sit there and disgrace my name and write all these ill things about me is not morally right who are y’all to judge my past who are y’all to say anything when y’all know nothing about me this is coming out of my mouth alone because I do not see it right for y’all to be able to sit there and talk about me like this when you don’t even know my story I am very upset over this article I am contacting you an attorney to see if there is anything that can be done about this also didn’t I pay my debt to society when I went up the road to prison isn’t that why I got sentenced to pay my debt to society who are y’all to sit there and say anything about me at all ask my family ask my friends my loved ones anybody that knows me old people that I’ve worked for and I guarantee you almost 95% of them will say I am a good stand-up guy I just wanted to voice my opinion seeing that y’all wanted to publish this ad I placed a we shut y’all down I don’t think y’all should be allowed to do this to people whatsoever no matter what their charges are dollar trying to take me away from my children and my family and I do not agree with this I Andrew Carroll I think your website should be shut down and hopefully very soon y’all will be hearing from my attorneys thank you and God blessfind is true large know sentences too long where do y’all get that from I am sitting here trying to take care of for children maybe if y’all did Jose research y’all would see that half of the stuff that I was charged with I was actually innocent on but yet y’all don’t do the crate research I do not appreciate your posting this I do not appreciate your slander ring my name I am a good stand up person I have lived in Charlestown community my entire life I am 31 years of age I was born a trooper se Francis hospital right there in West Ashley I have a high school diploma I have for beautiful children 3 girls 1 boy I have had a rough life and I’m doing my best to straighten things out I am innocent on many of my charges and have not even been found guilty on the ones that are pending now and forgot to sit there and disgrace my name and write all these Hill things about me is not morally right who are y’all to judge my past who were y’all to say anything when y’all know nothing about me this is coming out of my mouth alone because I do not see it

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