The man investigators call the ringleader of a golf cart theft ring remains at the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham after a bond hearing Thursday.
Jeremy Jerome Sumter, 27, of 1103 Pinelane Road, Apt. 303-D, Columbia is charged with criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen goods-value $5,000 or more and 10 counts of grand larceny-value more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, booking reports show. A $2,500 surety bond for each count was set for his release.
Sumter, formerly of Timmonsville, is set to have his first court appearance Oct. 3 in Florence.
Sumter was out of jail on a $1,500 bond for a grand larceny charge for which he was arrested June 23. He faced that crime in connection with the theft and resale of a four-wheeler, valued at more than $5,000, that was stolen in April from a residence on Hill Road near Timmonsville, Florence County Sheriff’s Capt. Julius Lee said in a previous interview.
Florence County sheriff’s investigators said the suspect and an accomplice are responsible for stealing about $70,000 worth of merchandise.
The accomplice, identified by the sheriff’s office at 39-year-old Christopher Hardin, of 3811 Hickory Nut Ridge, Florence, faces two charges of grand larceny and a count of criminal conspiracy, Florence County booking reports show.
Florence County Sheriff’s Lt. Brett Camp said Hardin turned himself in Saturday at the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, where the suspect was booked on two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. Darlington County Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Gainey said Monday he had no further information on those charges.
Hardin was released Saturday on $4,000 bond and taken into custody by Florence County deputies. He was released from Florence County Detention Center the same day on a $15,000 bond, Camp said.
Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said last week his office has recovered about 12 high-end golf carts and five trailers worth about $70,000. The items were found in Polk County, N.C., after they were stolen from Florence, Darlington and Richland counties.
Investigators say the suspects drove nearly four hours from home to sell the goods in some cases.
“Three counties, two states ... that does get pretty large,” Camp said.
Through multi-state police work, investigators were able to round up all of the goods and pinpoint the suspects.
“Several of them (the victims) had said that they were hoping and praying that they’d get their golf cart back ... several thought they’d never see their golf cart again,” Camp said.
— Morning News Staff Writer Charles Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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