Man accused of beating girlfriend, her son to serve 25 years

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Danny Pittman will spend 25 years in prison for nearly beating his girlfriend and her son to death.

Pittman took an Alford plea Thursday in a York County courtroom, admitting a drug addiction that led to the attack. An Alford plea allows a person to plead guilty by admitting that there is enough evidence for a jury to convict, though the defendant does not admit to the crime.

Prosecutors said Pittman had taken a large amount of drugs on the night of Feb. 1 when he showed up at the home of Kimberly Dawn Faile on Elder Road in Rock Hill.

He had taken from 30 to 50 hydrocodone pills on that day and was also using crack cocaine, marijuana, heroin and Xanax.

Pittman beat Faile and her 16-year-old son, Christopher Faile, in the head repeatedly, then took off in her SUV. Kimberly Dawn Faile's 11-year-old daughter woke up and found her mother and brother bleeding to death. Had she not gotten up, investigators believe both victims would have died.

A sheriff's investigation found that Pittman had texted Christopher Faile and told him to come outside and feed the dog. When the teen came outside, he was attacked and beaten.

Thursday in court, Kimberly Dawn Faile asked the judge for the maximum sentence against her former boyfriend.

"He has taken my world as I knew it and turned it upside down," she said. "All I know is I don't ever want him to see the outside of a prison again."

Faile said her two children never feel safe and live in constant fear.

Pittman was later found with the stolen car in Myrtle Beach. He was still wearing the blood-spattered clothes.

York County Sheriff's Capt. Jerry Hoffman stood up in court to also ask for the maximum sentence -- something Charlotte-area police rarely do.

"This is a very dangerous man," Hoffman said. "He is a threat to the community."

The judge did not give Pittman the maximum sentence, which would have been 45years for two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and grand larceny. He said he took into account the drug addiction and the chance for rehabilitation, but he also wanted to make sure Pittman would never repeat his crime.

Both Kimberly Dawn Faile and her son have multiple skull fractures and will be affected by the attack for the rest of their lives.

Pittman broke down in court, telling the judge he was ashamed of himself and asked for forgiveness.

He will not be eligible for parole.

WSOC