Judge denies bond for Colleton Co. man accused of setting wife on fire

COLLETON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - A judge in Colleton County denied bond Friday afternoon for a man deputies say set his wife on fire.

Craig Lewis, 41, is facing charges of attempted murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and resisting arrest.

The judge denied bond on the attempted murder and domestic violence charges. Deputies say Lewis is likely to face an additional charge of first-degree arson.

During Friday’s bond hearing, a deputy told the judge a gun was used in the crime and because Lewis is a convicted felon, he is not supposed to have guns. Deputies took multiple guns from Lewis’s Wade Hampton Avenue home in Walterboro Friday. They also put down several evidence markers and took photos.

Lewis had a question for the judge.

“Ma’am, any way I can get out to go to work, house arrest, GPS or something?” he asked.

The judge said no.

Deputies say Lewis told them his wife accidentally burned herself while trying to light a wood burning stove at his other home. He took her to the emergency room. Deputies say they found evidence at the house that didn’t match his story.

When deputies arrived at Lewis' house, there was hosing down on the carport and a couch was missing.

When he tried to leave, officials say Lewis attacked three deputies. One suffered a shoulder injury, another a sprained wrist and a third a cut hand.

The victim’s daughter told deputies her mother suffered burns on 50 percent of her body and was in critical condition, according to Colleton County Sheriff’s spokesperson Shalane Lowes. The victim was expected to undergo emergency surgery Friday.

Lewis was being held at the Colleton County jail.

In a post on the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office from 8:59 p.m. Thursday, Sheriff R.A. Strickland called for prayers for the victim.

The post states Strickland escorted the victim to the Walterboro Airport from the scene and waited with her for the arrival of a plane that took her to the Atlanta Medical Center for treatment.

“Moments like this are hard, you never know the right thing to say or do to comfort someone,” Strickland said. “If there’s one thing I do know, you can never go wrong with the power of prayer.”

In the post, the sheriff’s office also sent thanks to Colleton County Fire Rescue and its chief, Barry McRoy, for their fast response time and never-ending support.

Copyright 2019 WCSC. All rights reserved.