Pickens Man sentenced to Nineteen Years

Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins states that 30-year-old Nicholas Keith Blackstock pleaded guilty in Pickens County to felony DUI resulting in death, failure to stop for blue light resulting in death, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 19 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Blackstock will have to serve 85% of the 19 year sentence before he becomes eligible for release. Evidence presented at the plea hearing by Assistant Solicitor Baker Cleveland established that on April 7, 2017, Blackstock was involved in a chase with police that went from Liberty to 123 in Easley when he crossed over into oncoming traffic and while traveling at a high rate of speed collided head on with the car driven by the victim in this case. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and law enforcement found Blackstock had a quantity of meth in the car. A blood test revealed Blackstock was high on meth at the time of the crash.