Jury Convicts Andrew Allston Kirkland of Rape

 

Charleston, S.C. – February 8, 2018, Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced that a Charleston County jury has found Andrew Allston Kirkland guilty of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third Degree. The jury handed down its verdict Wednesday evening following a three-day trial. Upon conviction, Mr. Kirkland faced a sentencing range of up to ten years in prison. Judge Kristi Harrington sentenced Mr. Kirkland to five years of incarceration suspended upon one year of incarceration followed by four years of probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

 

Assistant Solicitors Drew Evans and Shannon Elliott prosecuted the case. The incident happened in December 2014 when the Victim and a friend came to Charleston from Beaufort to spend time with the Defendant and his brother for the friend’s birthday. After the group returned to the Defendant’s residence from visiting a local bar and went to bed for the night, the Victim was awoken early in the morning to the Defendant sexually assaulting her.

 

Assistant Solicitor Drew Evans stated, “We were very pleased with the jury’s decision and glad that the Victim can begin her full recovery from the incident in earnest. We are also very grateful for the cooperation of a key outcry witness, without whom a conviction would have been unlikely.”