Ex-University of South Carolina accountant has yet to face sentencing in $179,000 theft

FROM THE STATE:

Last December, former University of South Carolina accountant Lawrence “Trey” Godwin III pleaded guilty in a Richland County courtroom to stealing some $179,000 from USC during 2006 and 2006.

Now, almost six months after his guilty plea, Godwin, 35, of Camden, still has not been sentenced to either a prison term or probation.
No official — not Circuit Judge Casey Manning, who accepted the guilty plea, nor 5th Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson, whose office is prosecuting the case — will give a reason for the delay.
Efforts to reach Godwin’s attorney, Melissa Armstrong, were unsuccessful.
USC, the victim in the case, released a statement saying Godwin had made restitution in the amount of $59,157 following his guilty plea. The university turned that amount over to its insurance company, which earlier had paid the school $124,798 as partial compensation for the missing money.
USC said in its statement that Goodwin’s partial restitution “effectively” ends” university involvement in this matter. To discuss his status further is not appropriate because we’re not privy to all the facts that the judge would have in determining the proper sentence,” the statement said.
Manning gave no indication of when he intends to sentence Godwin. Normally, convicted criminals in South Carolina who plead guilty to felonies, as Godwin did, are sentenced sooner.
In any event, the six-month sentencing delay is just one more delay in a seemingly straightforward case marked by years of delay.
Five years ago, in July 2006, Godwin was arrested by USC detectives and charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent, embezzlement and credit card misuse.
Once a trusted accountant, Godwin had looted cash machines at the university that he was supposed to be tending and then falsified cash reports to cover up his crimes, according to warrants in the case.
A routine audit turned up the discrepancies, which took place between July 2005 and July 2006. Goodwin, who had worked at USC since February 2002, also was caught on a surveillance camera. Confronted, he confessed and admitted his guilt to officers, according to warrants.
Despite the evidence, his case fell into limbo.
Prosecutors said a succession of defense and prosecution attorneys were assigned to the case, making a speedy prosecution difficult.
Last year, after The State began looking into the continued inaction on the case, prosecutors scheduled a plea hearing.
Godwin pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to stealing some $179,000 from the university to support a heroin habit, he told the court, apologizing.
At the time, Manning said he would delay sentencing until he learned that restitution had been paid.
Godwin could receive a sentence of up to 20 years.