COWPENS MAN RECEIVES 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR CRIME SPREE

A Cowpens man received a 20-year prison sentence today for breaking into five Spartanburg County homes and stealing various items.

Toby D. Mabry, 29, pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree burglary, five counts of grand larceny, counts of petty larceny and obtaining property by false pretenses. The crimes occurred between May 2 and Oct. 1. The burglaries occurred on Old Charlotte Road, Blackwell Drive, Rainbow Lake Road, John Dodd Road and Steven Springs Road. The stolen property included electronics, guns and two cars. Deputies identified Mabry as a suspect after he sold some stolen property to a local pawn shop. Mabry confessed to the crimes during an interview with deputies.

“The investigating officers were diligent in their work,” Principal Deputy Solicitor Barry Barnette said. “The recovered a suspicious pawn ticket and used it to crack a significant crime spree.”

Barnette added that he believes Mabry committed the crimes to support a drug addiction. Mabry’s prior criminal record included convictions for third-degree burglary, failure to stop for a blue light and siren, possession of a stolen vehicle and breaking & entering an auto.

Mabry will serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before he is eligible for release.