State v. Bodenstedt

In this case, James W. Bodenstedt, Jr., appeals the plea judge’s decision to increase his sentence from six to eight years’ imprisonment. Bodenstedt contends the plea judge erred by increasing his sentence, instead of finding him in contempt of court for his disruptive behavior after sentencing. We reverse. 1

Bodenstedt worked for a traveling carnival based out of Florida. In October 2005, he telephoned the victim, Donald McCarter, the father of a fellow carnival worker, at his home in Easley, South Carolina, and made false representations to him. Specifically, Bodenstedt informed McCarter…