Whitewood man indicted for alleged shooting

The Whitewood man accused of shooting at vehicles in Whitewood from a second-floor apartment building has been formally indicted by a grand jury on two different charges.

Albert Rankin, 47, is being charged with aggravated assault and intentional damage to property in an amount over $1,000.

Lawrence County State's Attorney John Fitzgerald said Rankin was officially indicted last Thursday. Rankin remains in the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Rankin appeared in court last week; he requested a lawyer and was appointed counsel from the public defender's office.

He will be formally arraigned before 4th Circuit Judge Randall Macy at 9 a.m. on July 31, Fitzgerald said.

Aggravated assault is a Class 3 felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine upon conviction. Intentional damage to property exceeding $1,000 is a Class 4 felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Rankin was arrested July 22 after the alleged shooting spree. Police were in a standoff with Rankin but he was eventually arrested without incident, according to information provided by authorities.