Man Robs Home While Teen Hides in Laundry Room

A Leesville man was arrested Monday after stealing about $800 worth of jewelry, electronics and other items from a home while a 17-year-old girl hid in the laundry room, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies arrested Richard O’Neil Hatchell, 56, of 422 Berkeley Road, Leesville, and was charged with first-degree burglary in addition to several other charges, Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said.

Around 2 p.m. on Monday, the teenage girl called police to report someone breaking into a screen porch at the side of her parents’ home on Semm Sease Road near Gilbert, Metts said.

Deputies say the girl, who was alone, hid in the family’s laundry room while the burglar rummaged through the home.

While arriving to the scene, Deputy Ty Haigler saw a brown van leaving the home. Haigler tried to stop the van, but the driver refused to stop.

Metts said Haigler pursued the van and deputies later had to use Stop Sticks to stop the van on Main Street in Gilbert before Hatchell was arrested.

Deputies say they found one blue genie collector’s liquor bottle, one bottle of Vera Wang Princess perfume, jewelry and other items in a pillow case taken from the girl’s bed in the van.

Hatchell is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

He also is charged with failure to stop for a blue light, driving a motor vehicle with an open container of beer or wine and transporting an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Anyone with information about additional criminal activity involving Hatchell are asked to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site.