LCSD: Teens Pull Heist, Go on Spending Spree

A trio of teens are in hot water today, charged with the July 24 break-in at a home on Midge Creek Court near Chapin and the theft of $37,000 from a lock box.

They were arrested Tuesday, but not before one of the youths allegedly bought a handgun with a portion of the ill-gotten gains, while another teen allegedly bought a long list of big-boy toys, including a Kawasaki Pro Circuit dirt motorcycle, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said deputies arrested Jessie Edward Miller, 16, of 2207 Wessinger Road, Chapin, and Devin Michael Sherer, 16, of 1344 Old Lexington Highway, Lot A, Chapin, on charges of first-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. Miller and Sherer were charged as adults.

Miller and Sherer were being held Tuesday at a pre-trial detention facility off Broad River Road in Columbia operated by the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice, Metts said.

Deputies also detained a 15-year-old boy and later released him to his mother’s custody, Metts added. Deputies recommended that the 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecute the youth in family court in Lexington County on charges of first-degree burglary, criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

Under South Carolina law, Metts said he could not identify the 15-year-old boy because of his age.

Authorities allege that the 15-year-old used a portion of the money to buy a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, and that he gave some of the money to a 16-year-old boy who lives near Chapin. Metts said deputies went to the teen's home and found a briefcase in the boy's bedroom containing $4,000 in cash. Deputies also recovered the gun, which had been hidden in the woods adjacent to the 16-year-old's home. 

"Deputies determined that the 16-year-old boy hid the revolver in a hole that he then covered up with sticks," Metts said.

Meanwhile, Miller allegedly used some of the money to buy not only the motorcycle, but also a motorcycle stand, one Starcross MS2 motorcycle tire, one pair of motorcross goggles, one pair of motorcross pants, one Zstat 500-watt amplifier, one pair of headphones, two XBox video games and a controller, and one O'Neal MX motorcycle helmet -- all of which were found and seized at Miller's home, Metts said.