Sheriff: Men Stole Steel Beams Worth $10K From Church

Deputies arrested two men Friday who they say stole steel beams worth more than $10,000 from a church near West Columbia. 

Ronald Wayne Welch, 49, of Lexington and Michael James Hall, 28, of West Columbia are charged one count each of grand larceny, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. 

Deputies say they saw Welch and hall place the beams on a trailer parked outside House of Praise at 3833 Leaphart Road. They questioned the men about the beams and later arrested them. 

The bishop of the church told deputies he didn't tell the men they could take the beams, according to the sheriff's department.

Welch and Hall stole beams from the church four other times, deputies say, and sold them to CMC Recycling in Cayce.  

They were released from the Lexington County Detention Center Saturday when they each posted a $20,000 bond.