Fairfax Man Imprisoned After Pleading Guilty in 2020 Crash That Killed Passenger

Craig Martell Priester, 44, of Fairfax was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to felony driving under the influence in connection with a September 10, 2020 collision that killed his front-seat passenger, Dameon Williams, and injured a backseat passenger, the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said. Priester was sentenced to 15 years in prison, suspended to 11 years of active service that will be followed by two years of probation, and the plea and sentence were entered during General Sessions Court in Hampton County.

Priester’s trial had been scheduled to begin next week in Allendale County, but he entered a guilty plea instead during General Sessions Court in Hampton County, the solicitor’s office reported in a Feb. 18, 2026 press release. The release states Priester “pleaded guilty Friday,” but it does not provide the exact calendar date of that Friday; the press release itself is dated Feb. 18, 2026.

Lynorr Musser of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecuted the case and made a direct appeal to accountability in the courtroom. “The defendant acted with complete recklessness, and Mr. Williams tragically lost his life as a result,” Musser said. “We must hold Mr. Priester accountable for his actions.” Musser primarily prosecutes cases in Hampton, Allendale and Colleton counties and has been with the Solicitor’s Office since 2013, the office noted.

The solicitor’s release identifies the collision date as Sept. 10, 2020 and names the victim as Dameon Williams; it additionally states a backseat passenger was injured but does not name that person or describe the injury. The release does not supply the crash’s specific roadway location, time of day, breath or blood alcohol results, or vehicle details.

The press release also lists Priester’s prior convictions in detail. “Priester’s criminal record includes the following convictions: shoplifting (1998); strong arm robbery (1999); attempted armed robbery, assault and battery with intent to kill, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, (sentenced to 10-years) (2000); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (2006); two counts of third-degree burglary (2009); first-degree assault and battery (sentenced to 10 years, suspended to seven years and five years’ probation (2015); third-degree burglary (2018).”

The solicitor’s office included an explanatory note about the sentence structure: “A suspended sentence means the defendant must successfully serve his active sentence and complete probation or face serving the entire sentence.” The office framed the outcome as a response to recklessness that cost a life and as enforcement of criminal accountability in Hampton and neighboring counties.