Thieves hit Belton area for over $100,000 in property

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Five arrested

By Stan Welch
The last week of August was a busy time for a theft ring located in the Belton area. Five men and a woman were arrested last week for a series of crimes that resulted in the theft of more than $100,000 worth of property, primarily motor vehicles and construction equipment.

Shaun Damien Tiller, a nineteen year old white male from Belton, remains in the Anderson County Detention Center (ACDC), facing twenty two charges including grand larceny in the amount of more than $10,000, burglary, and various other larceny charges.

Christopher Adam Brown, an eighteen year old white male, from a Belton address, also remains behind bars, charged with larceny and receiving stolen goods.

Travis Ray Spencer, a twenty five year old white male from Honea Path, remains in jail, facing nineteen charges of larceny, burglary, and receiving stolen goods.

James Casey Kelly, WM, 23, 6’, 146 pounds, of Belton; Nicholas Casey Smith, WM, 34, 6’1″, 210 pounds, of Piedmont; and Misty Leigh Swilling, WF, 24, 5’5″, 150 pounds, of Anderson have all been released.

The crime spree began on August 24, according to incident reports obtained from the ACSO. According to the reports Tiller was caught on video while stealing William McClellion III’s Ford Excursion, valued at $15,000. He returned a few hours later and was again caught on video stealing a utility trailer with a commercial Toro mower valued at $9000.

Over the next eight days, Tiller and others allegedly stole several vehicles, a Bobcat earth mover, and utility trailers. They also broke into a number of cars stealing electronics and at least one firearm.

After an intensive investigation involving deputies K Evatt, C.K. Cowan, S.L. Steward, A.D. Hendrix, M.D. Creamer, C. Martin, P.P. Thompson, and a number of plainclothes investigators, arrest warrants were issued for the suspects and they were taken into custody. Property valued at more than $92,000 has been recovered so far.