Fight breaks out during arrest

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A scuffle inside the courthouse Wednesday resulted in new charges for a Florence man.
Carlton Earl Hollis, 29, of 313 Virginia Avenue in Florence, fought back officers as they tried to arrest him during a court appearance.
Authorities said that Hollis was indicted on first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse of a child under 12.
He is accused of fondling and raping a child here in Franklin County.
Investigators said that an indictment was handed down last week, but officers waited to arrest him until he was at a court appearance this week.
When sheriff's deputies tried to take Hollis into custody he resisted and a scuffle ensued.
New charges of resisting arrest were added.
The rape charge is a felony that carries punishment of 10 years to life in prison, if convicted. The sexual abuse charge carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison.
Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor.