Pickens Woman Charged in Burglary Spree

A Pickens woman has been charged with multiple burglaries around the state.

According to Sheriff C. David Stone, deputies arrested Brenda Gail Branham, 41, of 2833 Pumpkintown Highway, on July 13 for multiple burglaries in Pickens County.

Sheriff's Office detectives discovered that Branham, along with co-defendant Carolyn Jean Rodriguez, committed burglaries in multiple South Carolina Counties, Stone said.

Rodriguez was found inside an Horry County home during one such burglary and was arrested, Stone said.

Stone said a variety of items were stolen during the burglaries, including jewelry, money, televisions and more than 30 firearms.

Nearly half of the stolen guns were handguns, Stone said, and most of them were taken from Pickens, Newberry, Saluda, Aiken and Marlboro counties.

The stolen weapons have been recovered by the Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Stone said.

Branham is charged with Burglary – First Degree, two counts of Burglary – Second Degree, two counts of Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny and Receiving Stolen Goods. She could face charges in other counties as well.

She is being held at the Pickens County Detention Center awaiting bond.

Rodriguez is in custody at the Horry County Detention Center on burglary charges. She faces additional charges in Pickens County and in other jurisdictions, Stone said.

Both investigations remain active, he said.