Sumter man gets enhanced shoplifting charge over laundry detergent

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A 36-year-old man was charged Aug. 25 with shoplifting, third or subsequent offense, after allegedly taking a $9 package of laundry detergent without paying for it. Ryan M. Watford of 520 Timmerman St. in Sumter was arrested about 6:40 p.m. at a store in the 2000 block of Paxville Highway after a loss prevention specialist told Manning Police that Watford had concealed the detergent under his clothes. Watford's prior record includes three pending shoplifting offenses in Sumter - one from Dec. 12, 2012, one from April 18, 2013, and another from Nov. 27, 2013. He pleaded guilty in 1996 to third-degree burglary in Sumter and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended to two years' probation. He later pleaded guilty to possession of stolen goods less than $5,000 in value in 2000, and received five years in prison, suspended to three years' probation. Finally, in 2011, he pleaded guilty in Sumter to property crimes enhanced due to third or subsequent offense, receiving three years in prison, suspended to 18 months' probation and $1,962.60 in restitution.