
(Walhalla, SC)--------------------------------------The Criminal Investigations Division of The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office filed additional charges late last week against a Whittier, NC man who was already in custody on charges related to two separate investigations.
34 year old Christopher Nathan Stephens of Lewis Cove Road was charged with three counts of Safecracking late last week in regards to the break-in and opening of money lock boxes, with the intent to commit a larceny, at two Oconee County owned recreation areas on April 29th. Two of the charges pertained to lock boxes located at the Lawrence Bridge Boat Ramp on Lawrence Bridge Road. One of the charges pertained to a lock box located at the Seneca Creek Boat Landing on Seneca Creek Road.
Stephens was also charged with one count of Petit Larceny in a separate investigation related to the theft of a wheel and cover from a Chevy Tahoe that also occurred on April 29th at the Lawrence Bridge Boat Ramp on Lawrence Bridge Road. Stephens and his vehicle, a red Nissan Xterra, were discovered on the side of Old Seneca Road in Pickens County with a tire and wheel that matched the ones stolen from the Chevy Tahoe.
The wheel and tire were returned to the owner and Stephens was placed into the custody and transported to the Oconee County Law Enforcement Center in Walhalla last Thursday.
In the initial stages of the investigation, the value of the money that could be possibly missing was unknown. However, as the investigation continued, investigators were able to determine that Stephens stole an undisclosed amount of money from the lock boxes at the two recreation areas.
Based upon the evidence gathered, Stephens was additionally charged with three counts of Petit Larceny.
At this time, Stephens remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center on a combined $38,000 surety bond.
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