Two Taylors Men Charged in Connection with Auto Thefts

Greenville County Sheriff's deputies said they began to see a rise in the number of auto thefts during the month of June.

To combat the problem, deputies stepped up enforcement and took a proactive role.

As a result, one person is wanted and six other people are in jail as of Friday in connection with 18 recent auto-theft cases.

James Douglas Owensby, 26, of 1 Hartsfield Drive, Apt. 11, Taylors, is wanted by Greenville County Sheriff's deputies. He is charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Also charged:

• Christy Dodgens, 23, of 212 Spruce Street, Greenville, is charged with two counts of possession with a stolen vehicle. She was arrested on July 27 and is in jail on a $10,000 bond.
• Christopher LeWallen, 25, of 2 Alice Farr Drive, Greenville, is charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle. He was arrested on July 30 and is in jail on a $10,000 bond.
• Victor Frances Machado, 20, of 101 Gold Thread Way, Taylors, is charged with five counts of grand larceny. He was arrested on July 16 and is in jail on a $28,000 bond.
• MatthewMcCullough, 26, of 30 Gosnell Road, Travelers Rest, is charged with five counts of grand larceny and three counts of petit larceny. He was arrested on July 14 and is being held on a $34,260 bond.
• Daniel Lee Pease, 31, of 2 Farrs Bridge Road, Greenville, is charged with two counts of posession of a stolen vehicle. He was arrested on July 30 and is in jail on a $10,000 bond.
• Roger Allen Pease, 33, of 2 Alice Farr Drive, Greenville, is charged with five counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of grand larceny. He was arrested on Aug. 1 and is in jail on a $35,000 bond.

Deputies in the auto-theft unit were able to obtain evidence that led to 18 cases being solved and resulted in 27 warrants.

The string of auto thefts began on June 15 and occurred througout Greenville County at homes, businesses and parking lots.

Of the 18 vehicles stolen, nine of them were Hondas, deputies said. According to recent data sent out by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Hondas are one of the most popular vehicles in the country to be stolen.

In South Carolina, the 1993 Honda Accord ranked top on the list of 2010 car thefts, and the 1995 Honda Civic ranked seventh, according to the NICB report.