BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson announced that a Berkeley County jury found Gary Curtis Fraley guilty on Friday of crimes that terrorized a local family entertainment center and spanned over four hours and two crime scenes.
Circuit Judge Kristi L. Harrington sentenced the defendant to the maximum on each of the ten indictments for a total of 90 years. He must serve 85% of his sentence before release. Goose Creek Police Department first became alerted to a possible problem with Gary Fraley at about 4:00 p.m. on August 5th 2014.
Fray’s estranged wife came to the police station concerned over threats she had seen on Facebook directed toward her and her boss as well as a purchase made on the couple’s joint credit card account earlier that morning at a gun shop. Mrs. Fraley had previously complained about her husband; even obtaining a police escort one night after he threatened her at Royal Lanes Bowling Alley where she worked. She had not pressed charges against him in the past, though Fraley was on trespass notice at the bowling alley.
Just a little over an hour later, while detectives were tracking down the Facebook evidence and interviewing witnesses about other threats, a call came out for “Shots fired” at the Royal Lanes Bowling Alley. Officers encountered a chaotic scene at Royal Lanes when they arrived after 5:00 p.m. Customers, including a number of children, were in the process of being evacuated from the building by employees as the first responders arrived.
The S.W.A.T. team was deployed shortly after officers realized that Fraley had owner, Steven Tsafos trapped in his office at gunpoint. Employees reported that they had already heard one shot fired after hearing loud voices coming from the office. Tsafos finally managed to escape the office unharmed but Gary Fraley barricaded himself behind a desk refusing to come out. After an hour and half standoff; S.W.A.T. team commander, Captain David Aarons saw an opportunity and gave the order to storm the office.
Officers pinned the defendant behind a desk and safely took Fraley’s fully-loaded and cocked 357.revolver. Fraley was taken to headquarters where he complained of chest pains and was immediately taken to Trident Medical Center. Although he claimed later not to remember anything about the day, he told an officer at the hospital that he remembered having a friend of his daughter’s in his car and taking her to the Econolodge to use the restroom. The officer was unaware at the time that there was another victim in the case.
As the scene unfolded inside the bowling alley, an 11 year old girl exited Fraley’s vehicle and quietly asked a women in the parking lot if she could use her phone. The woman noticed the girl was shaking. After her father picked her up, the girl told her father that Fraley had raped her at the Econolodge earlier in the day. Goose Creek Police detectives began investigating the young girl’s claims and learned that Fraley had targeted several young girls in his neighborhood starting several days before he entered the Bowling Alley with a gun.
He created a story about a surprise birthday party for his 12 year old daughter at Royal Lanes Bowling Alley and came to the homes of two families asking if their daughters could attend. Fraley even went so far as to show parents some rocks he called “fossils” explaining they would use them as a craft activity at the party. When one family said their daughter could not attend; he offered to pay her to go to the party. Fraley and the 11 year old victim and her family knew each other.
When Fraley approached the victim’s family on August 5th at about 2:30 p.m., the parents allowed the victim to go with Fraley provided he had her home at 5:30 for another family event. The young girl had been friends with Fraley’s daughter and attended birthday parties for her in the past. After getting the child in his car, he drove to Publix and purchased Nyquil and alcohol. He drove the child to the Econolodge where he had previously rented a room and told her that other party goers were meeting them there.
Once inside the room, he showed her a handgun and said “don’t test me”. Over the course of the next couple of hours he drugged and raped her repeatedly before putting cartoons on the television and preparing to go to the Bowling Alley. At one point he told her, “My wife is cheating on me so I’m going to get back at her by having sex with you”. At trial, the State presented 42 witnesses to explain the disturbing events of August 5th in detail. Lead
Prosecutor Anne Williams said the most important witness in the case was the child victim. “This little girl was a real trooper. She showed tremendous courage and resolve in facing her attacker in court,” said Williams.
Gary Fraley testified on his own behalf claiming repeatedly that he didn’t reminder anything about the crimes despite being confronted with statement after statement to the contrary on cross examination by Assistant Solicitor Dan Poulos. Fraley’s defense attorney argued he was insane at the time of the crimes.
Solicitor Wilson credited Goose Creek Police Department, stating, “GCPD managed an intense situation with great skill. Without their expertise, many more could have been hurt. This prosecution was especially effective in part because of their meticulous gathering of evidence. Our teams came together for a fantastic joint effort.”
Fraley was convicted of three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, one count of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and one count of attempted murder for a total of 90 years.
(VIA PRESS RELEASE)
Recent Comments