- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
York Today
By the People, for the People
SC Man Pleads Guilty to After-Murder Role in 11-Year-Old Fort Mill Killing
Eric Neal Patton admitted to accessory after the fact to murder in the 2015 death of LaCharles Govan.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A man already serving time in a South Carolina prison has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in the 2015 killing of LaCharles Govan, 29, outside a Fort Mill church. Eric Neal Patton, 40, originally faced a murder charge but that was dropped as part of a plea deal. Patton will serve a 15-year sentence concurrently with an 18-year sentence he is already serving for other crimes.
Why it matters
This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting cold cases, as Govan's death went without an arrest for three years. The plea deal also raises questions about the balance between justice for victims' families and pragmatic considerations for prosecutors in resolving long-unsolved crimes.
The details
Patton admitted in court that he and Govan had been involved in a series of car break-ins together, and that Patton believed Govan was providing information to police when Govan was killed. After the killing, Patton deleted Govan's contact information from his cellphone. No one else has been charged in Govan's death.
- LaCharles Govan was found shot twice in the head near a Fort Mill church in June 2015.
- Patton was charged with Govan's murder in 2018 while already in prison for other crimes.
- Patton pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder on February 13, 2026.
The players
Eric Neal Patton
A 40-year-old man who pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in the 2015 killing of LaCharles Govan.
LaCharles Govan
A 29-year-old man who was found shot twice in the head near a Fort Mill church in June 2015.
Jack Swerling
One of South Carolina's most well-known defense attorneys with over 40 years of experience, who represented Patton in the case.
John Anthony
The York County prosecutor who worked out the plea deal with Patton's lawyer.
D. Shawn Graham
The visiting judge who accepted Patton's plea and sentence.
What they’re saying
“We both was out committing crimes, it just played out that way.”
— Eric Neal Patton (Herald Online)
“He's looking forward to getting out in a few years.”
— Jack Swerling, Patton's Lawyer (Herald Online)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Eric Neal Patton out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting cold cases and the difficult balance prosecutors must strike between seeking justice for victims' families and pragmatic considerations in resolving long-unsolved crimes.
