Lamar man arrested on chop shop charges

A Lamar man was arrested Wednesday after deputies said several cars found at his home during a drug bust were found to have been stolen, Darlington County Sheriff’s Capt. Andy Locklair said.

Clyde McClain Jr., 58, of 1217 Cartersville Highway is charged with two counts of violating the chop shop law and two counts possession of a stolen vehicle, Locklair said. McClain initially was arrested Aug. 28 on various drug charges.

Deputies discovered four vehicles at the suspects house and were preparing seize them this month when they found two of the vehicles had fake vehicle identification numbers (VINs), Locklair said. Investigators believe it was an attempt to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen,.

It is against the law to change a VIN, Locklair said.

A judge set a $40,000 surety bond for McClain’s release from the Darlington County Detention Center.