Photo Gallery | 4 arrested, 1 sought in stolen metal case
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people and is searching for a fifth person in connection with the selling of stolen metal.
Deputies say between June 2012 and August 11th, Ashley Marie Conner, Justin Alexander Coleman, Frankie Lynn Lawhon, Matthew Corey Brogdon and Benjamin Wade Huggins obtained and then sold stolen nonferrous metal to multiple recycling centers located within Sumter County.
While working in cooperation with the S.C. Public Service Authority and Santee Cooper Electric Cooperative officers discovered that several items of nonferrous metal stolen from multiple power stations owned or managed by Santee Cooper had been obtained, transported, purchased or sold by the above subjects, the report stated.
Deputies say Coleman and Conner purchased stolen metals from Brogdon and then using her issued nonferrous metals permit Conner transported the metals along with additional stolen metals to several recyclers where she sold the metal for an excess of $10,000 between June 2012 and August 11th, 2012.
Coleman along with Huggins also obtained stolen metals some of which they purchased from Brogdon and conspired to have Lawhon, on five separate occasions, transport and sell the metals using his nonferrous metals permit to C and M Recycling Center located on Green Swamp Road in Sumter, obtaining approximately $2,500 for the sale of the metals.
Upon Brogdon’s arrest on August 14th, it was discovered that he also had an outstanding bench warrant issued by the General Sessions Court in Calhoun County for possession of barbiturates.
Coleman, Conner and Lawhon were located and arrested on August 15th and 16th.
At this time, Coleman was also served with additional outstanding warrants issued for his arrest for trespassing as well as assault and battery, the report stated.
Deputies say Huggins is still being sought for his connection to these incidents and is also wanted on burglary 2nd charges by the Bishopville Police Department in Lee County.
Huggins was last known to be living with his sister on Zachery Rd. but may be hiding out in the Wedgefield area of Sumter County but may also be in Lee, Clarendon or Calhoun Counties.
