SPARTANBURG COUNTY CRIME SPREE LEADS TO 31-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR LOCAL MAN

A Spartanburg County man received 31-year prison sentence today when he took responsibility for a string of property crimes.

Christopher J. Arnold, 24, of 930 McAbee Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny, three counts of forgery and third-degree burglary before Circuit Judge Roger Couch. The sentence included a 15-year probation revocation.

While serving a probationary sentence on Nov. 6, 2004 for grand larceny, Arnold stole a truck from the parking lot of the Li’L Cricket Food Store on Southport Road. He took a 1986 Dodge pick-up that was parked at the gas pumps. Deputies recovered the truck three days later near the intersection of Highway 215 and Ott Shoals Road. On Nov. 10, 2004, Arnold broke into the Roebuck Church of God on McAbee Road and attempted to take a Yamaha electric piano from the building. Arnold abandoned the theft attempt when two people drove up to the church and saw that Arnold was trying to steal the $6,000 piano.

Witness statements implicated Arnold in the crime. Arnold told acquaintances he intended to pawn the stolen piano.

Arnold also admitted to cashing three forged checks during his four-day crime spree.

“Investigator Joseph Bohon and his peers did a super job with this case,” Assistant Solicitor Kim Leskanic said. “They forced Arnold into a position where he had no choice but to accept responsibility for some pathetic actions.”