Walhalla Man arrested for Criminal Domestic Violence

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Walhalla man on criminal domestic violence charges after an incident that occurred last Friday morning.  Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt gives details. “34-year-old Brandon Leon Payne, whose address according to a warrant is 312 Torrington Road in Walhalla was booked in the Oconee County Detention Center around 2:17am on May 9.  An Oconee County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to an address on Pickett Post Road around 1:44am last Friday in regards to a call from a complainant that stated that Payne had come home and was assaulting his girlfriend.  The deputy arrived and noticed the front door was open.  The deputy announced his presence and made his way in, where he called for Payne, upon which Payne came out.  The deputy made his way to a bedroom in the back, where he talked with the victim, who stated that Payne had hit her.  The deputy noticed visible injuries on her head.  Payne was arrested and transported to the OconeeCountyDetentionCenter.” Payne is accused of hitting the victim several times.  According to the incident report, Payne has had two prior criminal domestic violence charges in the past ten years.  Due to that fact, Payne has been charged with criminal domestic violence, third offense.  Payne is still being held at the Oconee County Detention Center on a $50,000 surety bond.