FLORENCE COUNTY, SC — A man accused in the death of Lake City Police Lt. John Stewart has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 21 years in prison. Jermaine Roberson entered the plea Monday in Florence County court, shortly after a jury had been seated to hear the case.
Roberson pleaded guilty to failure to stop for a blue light resulting in death and carjacking. South Carolina Circuit Court Judge H. Steven Deberry, IV imposed the prison term in connection with the September 2021 incident that left Stewart dead.
The case centered on a high-speed pursuit that investigators say ended in tragedy when Stewart was struck while assisting other officers. Court proceedings also brought emotional statements from both sides as the family and attorneys described the impact of the officer’s death and Roberson’s responsibility.
How investigators say the fatal encounter unfolded
Investigators said Stewart was off duty when he responded to help other officers during a pursuit involving Roberson. According to those accounts, he was deploying stop sticks in an effort to bring the chase to an end.
Police said Roberson’s vehicle hit Stewart during that effort. Officers reported that Roberson kept driving after the collision while others stopped to help the injured lieutenant.
The pursuit and collision became the central facts in the criminal case. Prosecutors pursued charges tied both to the vehicle chase and to the later carjacking that investigators said happened before Roberson was taken into custody.
Pleas entered after a jury had already been seated
The timing of the plea made Monday’s hearing unusual. Court officials had already seated a jury to hear the case before Roberson chose to plead guilty, bringing the trial process to a halt.
That decision avoided a full trial over the death of Stewart, a veteran Lake City police officer whose killing had been pending in court for years. The guilty plea also removed the need for jurors to weigh the evidence and decide the case themselves.
With the plea accepted, Judge Deberry proceeded directly to sentencing. The court then heard from attorneys about the case, Stewart’s service and the toll the long legal process had taken on his family.
Prosecutor describes Stewart’s service and his family’s patience
During the hearing, 12th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Todd Tucker spoke about Stewart as a committed officer and praised the patience shown by his family while the case moved through the courts. Tucker said the family had remained engaged despite the long wait for resolution.
Tucker also told the court that Stewart’s relatives had repeatedly discussed with him the risks that come with police work. He said Stewart understood that danger and never lost sight of the dangers tied to the job.
According to Tucker, Stewart’s family had been candid about how often they raised those concerns with him. The remarks underscored the personal loss behind a case built around a fatal pursuit and a police officer who died while helping others.
Defense says Roberson was remorseful and wanted to face punishment
Roberson’s attorney, Ralph Wilson, told the judge that his client was remorseful and had wanted to do what was right. Wilson said Roberson had never denied being involved in the incident.
Wilson also said Roberson did not try to avoid responsibility for the outcome. In his remarks, the attorney argued that Roberson had wanted to face sentencing and believed he should receive the best understanding possible of his situation before that happened.
The defense comments came as the court considered the guilty plea and prison term. They offered a different tone from the prosecution’s account, but they did not change the outcome: Roberson was sentenced to 21 years.
Courtroom tension followed the sentencing decision
The hearing became emotional after the sentence was announced. Members of Roberson’s family reacted with an outburst in the courtroom, saying he was not guilty.
The moment added another layer of strain to a case that already carried heavy consequences for both families. Stewart’s brother and sister were present for the plea hearing, and Tucker spoke on their behalf.
Those in the courtroom saw the end of a long-running case tied to the killing of a police lieutenant and the aftermath of a dangerous chase. The sentence marked the latest step in a case that had been unresolved since 2021.
Lt. John Stewart’s career and legacy in Lake City
Stewart served with the Lake City Police Department for more than a decade, according to the court account of his career. His work as a local officer became part of the public record of the case after his death.
He was later inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame, a recognition that highlighted his service to law enforcement. That distinction helped frame Monday’s hearing as more than a sentencing; it was also a moment of remembrance for a longtime officer.
The case closed with Roberson facing a 21-year sentence, while Stewart’s role in the department and the circumstances of his death remained at the center of the courtroom proceedings.
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