Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Charges Two Westminster Men in Armed Robbery Investigation

Kevin Wayne Maler

Joe Navarro, III

(Walhalla, SC)---------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office charged two Westminster men this week in an ongoing Armed Robbery investigation.

60 year old Kevin Wayne Maler and 44 year old Joe Navarro, III were served arrest warrants this week charging them with one count each of Armed Robbery while Armed with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime.

Maler was arrested as a result of a Warrant Service on Wednesday, August 19^th and was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center, on the same day, at around 11:56am.  Maler was booked into jail by a Deputy assigned to the Warrants Unit.  At this time, Maler remains in jail as his bond was denied on his two charges during an initial appearance before a Judge.  Maler will appear before a Circuit Court Judge, at a later time, regarding his bond. 

Navarro, III was arrested and booked into jail on Monday, August 17^th at around 11:55am.  Navarro, III was taken in custody, at that time, on unrelated charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Driving under Suspension in relation to a traffic stop conducted by a Deputy assigned to the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (P.A.C.E.) team.  The traffic stop on Monday of this week occurred near Walhalla on the Coffee Road. 

Navarro, III was given a combined $52,100 dollar surety bond on his charges related to the traffic stop.  Navarro, III was also denied bond on the two charges in reference to the Armed Robbery investigation during an initial appearance before a Judge.  Navarro, III will also appear before a Circuit Court Judge at a later date. 

The Sheriff’s Office investigation began on the evening of August 13^th of this year when a Deputy assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau met with the victim, an adult male, at the Poor Farm Boat Ramp in reference to a reported armed robbery.  The Poor Farm Boat Ramp is off of Camp Road at Poor Farm Lake.

Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, the victim was being given a ride in a black Volkswagen Beetle that was being driven by Navarro, III.  Maler was a passenger in the vehicle.  Navarro, III then drove the vehicle to the Poor Farm Boat Ramp, where both Navarro, III and Maler got out of the vehicle and removed the victim from inside of the car. 

The victim was then reportedly assaulted by both subjects, with Navarro, III using a pair of brass knuckles.  Maler reportedly produced a knife.  The victim was asked by both subjects to turn out his pockets.  Maler and Navarro, III left the scene, before Deputies arrived, with cash and a ball cap that belonged to the victim. 

The investigation was turned over to a Violent Crimes Investigators assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau.  Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, and after a consultation with a Judge, arrest warrants were obtained against Maler and Navarro, III.

According to arrest warrants obtained by the Investigator in the case, both Maler and Navarro, III stole approximately $80.00 dollars and a camo Chevrolet ball cap from the victim.  During the course of the crime, Maler was armed with a knife while Navarro, III displayed and used brass knuckles during the crime, according to arrest warrants.