The man charged after a road rage incident involving a firearm has been sentenced to serve time behind bars.
35-year-old Samuel Joseph Dillard was arrested in August 2025 following an early morning incident on Highway 21 near Ralph Rahn Road. Deputies with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office testified in court that Dillard ‘brake checked’ another driver, C.Z., who then went around Dillard to do the same. This resulted in a crash. C.Z. reportedly heard what he believed to be a gunshot and left the scene for his own safety. He went to the church across the road and waited for law enforcement to arrive on scene before returning.
The deputy who responded to the crash took statements from the parties and determined that Dillard attempted to avoid hitting C.Z., lost control, and collided with the driver’s side of C.Z.’s vehicle. A second deputy testified that he inspected C.Z.’s vehicle and located a bullet hole near the back of the driver side door close to where the seatbelt is located. It was later determined that the bullet went into the driver’s seat. The deputy testified that abrasions and redness were noted on C.Z.’s back when he was interviewed by CID, but that the bullet did not penetrate the skin.
Dillard reportedly told law enforcement that he raised the gun and pointed it, but did not intend for it to go off.
Ultimately, deputies charged Dillard with Aggravated Assault, Pointing/Aiming a Gun at Another, Aggressive Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane. Judge Michael Muldrew denied Dillard’s request for bond after the incident, citing the threat Dillard posed to the community. He’s been behind bars since his arrest and a grand jury indicted him on additional charges in September 2025.
On March 18, Dillard entered a guilty plea on the Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Aggressive Driving charges. As a condition of the negotiated plea offered by Assistant District Attorney Bryan Roy, the Criminal Damage to Property (1st degree), the second count of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Pointing a Gun at Another charges were dismissed.
Judge Muldrew accepted the plea and sentence recommendation, ordering Dillard to serve as follows:
- Aggravated Assault – Dillard was sentenced to five years with two years in confinement, plus a $1,500 fine.
- Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony – Dillard received a sentence of 5 years probation, consecutive to Count 1, plus a $1,000 fine.
- Aggressive Driving – Dillard received 12 months to serve, concurrent to Count 1.
In total, Dillard, who was represented by defense attorney BJ Fussell, will serve two years behind bars and eight years on probation. He also received credit for time served in the county jail dating back to August 4, 2025. After fees, the fines total $3,530.
Dillard was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000, complete 40 hours of community service, complete Anger Management within six months of release, and is barred from consuming alcohol/dangerous drugs, associating with individuals who do, and possessing firearms.
The victim, C.Z., was initially charged with Aggressive Driving as well, but the case was dismissed in November 2025. State Court Solicitor Spencer Tyson listed the reason for dismissal as C.Z. being the victim in the case.
