Dearius Bernard Shelton, 20, was tried by a jury on the charge of receiving stolen goods. Shelton initially was sentenced to five years in prison but Circuit Judge James C. Williams of Orangeburg suspended the sentence to 18 months of prison time, gave Shelton five years of probation and ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution.
Shelton’s arrest warrant, signed by Lt. Terry Humphries, said Shelton had in his possession a 2007 KTM 200 XC dirt bike, knowing the bike was stolen. It is worth $5,500.
The break-in and theft of the dirt bike and four other vehicles at the Tire Shop in Jonesville was discovered on Dec. 22 by Sgt. Wendy Childers, who was conducting a property check.
Two of the ATMs were recovered the afternoon of the theft.
A maintenance man working on Shelton’s furnace testified during the trial that he saw one of the stolen bikes under Shelton’s house. Later, the witness was at the Tire Shop and heard about the break-in. He described to law officers in detail the bike he had seen under Shelton’s house.
Humphries said officers went to talk with Shelton. The bike was not there, but officers saw tire tracks. Shelton said there had been a moped under the house, he had given it to his cousin and it was not the bike officers were looking for.
Humphries said the bike was never recovered.
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