ManningLive

Man charged with shoplifting batteries

by Robert Joseph Baker | March 2, 2016 12:01 pm

A 47-year-old Manning man was charged Feb. 25 with shoplifting enhancement after an employee with a Paxville Highway store told the Manning Police Department that the man had allegedly taken two four-packs of Westinghouse 3.7 volt lithium ion rechargeable batters valued at about $28, before trying to return them for a refund.
According to a records check with the Clarendon County Public Index, Maurice Albert Hunter, 47, of 915 Berry St. in Manning, has three prior shoplifting charges and another property offense, leading to the enhancement charge in the current incident.
The Public Index shows that Hunter was charged March 2, 2015, with shoplifting enhanced; May 21, 2015, with receiving stolen goods of a value of $2,000 or less enhanced; Sept. 8, 2015, with shoplifting enhanced; and Aug. 22, 2007, with shoplifting.
Enhanced shoplifting charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
An employee with the store told police about 10:54 a.m. Feb. 19 that the suspect allegedly walked to the seasonal aile and took the batteries, placing them into his right coat pocket. He then allegedly walked to a cash register and paid for a $1 rink.
As the suspect walked out of the store, he alegedly took the batteries out of his poket and placed them into the bag he just received with the drink.
Hunter then allegedly went back into the store and returned the batteries in exchange for a gift card valued at $30.18. Hunter then reportedly walked to a gas station where his vehicle was parked.