In this Informer file photo from April, Greg Elkins is led out of Marion County Justice Court by a detention officer.
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
A former Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Columbia Police Department captain had his probation revoked this morning in Circuit Court and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Greg Elkins was convicted in 2006 of manslaughter for shooting and killing Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Hooper and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with only two years to serve and five years on post release supervision.
Elkins’ probation was revoked this morning because he was arrested in April on charges of DUI, reckless driving, felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by convicted felon. Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell sentenced Elkins to serve 18 years in prison.
On a recorded 911 call, Elkins could be heard saying that his wife was “messing around” with Hooper, according to court documents. Elkins later admitted to shooting Hooper and placing a gun in Hooper’s hand after the incident, the court documents state.
Elkins, 42, was arrested in April by the Sheriff’s Office after he was pulled over and found to be in possession of approximately .27 grams of meth on Highway 98 East in Columbia, according to the affidavit. Elkins has yet to be indicted on the charges he was arrested on in April.
According to the court file, Elkins worked as a captain for the Columbia Police Department from 1992-2002 and as an investigator for the Sheriff’s Office from 2002-2004.
I THINK IT IS A SHAME.HE WILL BE LEAVING HIS CHILDREN BEHIND ONCE MORE. NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO PRAY FOR GREG WE ALSO NEEDS TO PRAY FOR HIS CHILDREN.WE NEED TO PRAY FOR STRENGTH FOR GREG THAT THE LORD WILL BE HIS GUIDE WHILE HE IS THERE. PRAY THE KIDS WILL NOT BE CRUEL TO EACH OTHER CAUSE IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU GREG IF YOU NEED ANYTHING LET US KN0W.
Rest in Peace Paul Hooper.
AMEN!
Why is it that he is the only one we hear about they were others there to! One thing all of marion county stereotype someone for wrong doin and keep throwin up the past. What is wrong with u people. I guess u all have never done anything wrong! Greg is a good man and because of everyones opinion, the judges caint do there job right because they to scared they will not get voted back in. I was there in court room I heard it all they gave everyone a chance to call a witness and talk but him wht cause you all had the judges mind made up before he ever entered the court room! Maybe if yall would clean ur own doorsteps and stay off everyone elses u might actually see u hace done wrong in ur life to but people forgave u and u went own! Guess its all in qho u know and how much money u got really sad that this is qhat thus god foresaken town has has resorted to look around people and if u don’t know the whole truth then don’t speak it
learn to spell and good men dont kill
If he did NOT speak in court, then he CHOSE not to speak. In case you do not know, lawyers are NOT inclined to insist their clients testify due to it opening them up to cross-examination by the prosecutors. He was more than likely encouraged by HIS lawyer not to speak in the courtroom. He had the RIGHT to do so, but he must have chosen to follow HIS lawyers advise.
I agree with mad as hell! Good men do NOT kill each other due to infidelity!
I went to school with Greg he’s a good man and was a good officer . I don’t know what Happen in the Hooper case nor do i want to know but i am sure a lot of people put in that his place may have reacted the same way he did .I DON’T Agree with what he done to Hooper or with the sentence he got but wasn’t it the same judge that revoked his probation that handed down that sentence and isn’t he the same Judge running for RE election ? I just can’t believe a mans life is only worth 2 yrs but this is Columbia , I bet the dismiss the drug and other charges on him .GOOD LUCK GREG
I agree with you that Greg is really a good guy, who went through some personal problems, and maybe didn’t handle things like he wishes now that he had. (Surely, a lot of us can relate to that.) He could turn things around for himself, with the right influence. But that basic goodness in a person is not brought back to the surface by spending 18 years in prison. I hate it for him.
It appears that freedom did not do anything for him either. So if being free won’t do it, and yrs in prison won’t do it, wonder what will?
God can change a person. Regardless of where we have been and what we have done. God can and will forgive if we ask him. We have to ask him. He won’t make us ask for forgiveness. We as a people should be more Christ like. Once God forgives us for our sins, those sins are never to be remembered by God; but we as a people remember them.
FINALLY!
AMEN!!!!
I’m sure Greg appreciates all of your support.he was done wrong! They ask everyone in the court room if they had a witness and various other questions. Never once was he givin the chance to speak r 4 his witness to speak. The judges mind was made up before he ever entered the court room.why? Politics and so many people think they don’t make mistakes here! Its sad he wasn’t even givin a chance
IMHO:The first sentence was too light and this one too harsh. Not surprised at anything anymore.
You reap what you sow.
If we had him back on our law team Marion county would be a safer place to raise our children
I would have to move.
I am a firm believer in karma. (biblically speaking “You Reap What You Sow” )…What goes around…comes around….Well, Greg,….its coming around for ya now !
I feel sure Greg Elkins over-reacted and compounded folly with deception by later manipulating the scene of the occurrences but the question that strikes me is: Was justice served in the first place and subsequently?
Now digging his hole deeper Greg once again succeeded in putting his future in peril by placing himself in an awkward position and limiting his choices of a life redemption experience!
It’s no secret that local and regional law enforcement painted Greg as a target awaiting the time they could extract further vengeance on him and finally won out relying on Greg’s family or friend(s) to set him up; their scheme finally came together and he was apprehended. Now he has been denied due process in this latest chapter but, for those of you with a personal stake, stay tuned for further developments.
I don’t know the whole story of the events which have unfolded to bring this entire saga to its present state but divulgence of the complete chain of events will unfold over the months or years to come and my sincere wish is for a healing and peace to all involved.
Bibically speakin the bible says to forgive and forget
I’ll certainly agree on the forgiveness but I’d need to know book, chapter and verse on forgetting.
I’ve forgiven every wrong ever committed against me but forgiving shouldn’t be confused with trust; A lot of the people I’ve forgiven are not to be trusted and that’s what experience has taught me.
Don’t get me wrong, part of me feels sorry for Greg. He was in the middle of something bad. But you must pay for what you do. He made his choice. If it had been Paul, I would believe that he should have to pay for the crime. When you decide to take a life, you not only kill someone, you effect alot of people. There are three other young children that lost their father too. It is a bad situation for everyone involved. I have prayed for all the children involved in the horrible situation.
I agree 100%!
Bibically speakin the bible says thou shall not kill….
The bible also tells us we are not to judge.
I agree with “A New Voice of Reason”. I think we all should forgive him but from a societal prospective I would not “TRUST” a man with such a criminal wrap sheet with his freedom. I do however love you bro! God Bless!
It is easy to use the word forgive when it does not effect you personally. I lost a great friend. I have to struggle every time I think about it. I hope to one day forgive but it is really unlikely. I do believe that the things that Greg done was in heat of passion. But I hope that no one has to deal with the fellings that Paul’s friends and family have to deal with on a daily basis. I do not think you would be so easy to use the word forgive if you had to deal with it.
Paul is missed by us all! Everytime he came over he was so friendly and funny! RIP my dear friend. Finally you got the respect you deserved!