NEWBERRY COUNTY — A Prosperity man remained in jail Tuesday night in connection with the recovery of three pull-behind campers that had been reported stolen in South Carolina and Georgia. The campers were valued at $100,000 total.
Jamey Lee Farmer, 43, of 888 Marina Way 9B, remained in the Newberry County Detention Center, charged with two counts of receiving stolen goods, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Charges are pending from the other jurisdictions for the theft of the campers.
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said investigators received information a stolen camper was at Dreher Island Storage on State Park Road. A check of the camper’s serial number determined that the camper was stolen from York County. Working with York County investigators, the NCSO identified the suspect who stole the camper to be Farmer.
Farmer was located at Buffalo Creek Marina on Marina Way staying in a camper that had been stolen from Columbus, Ga. Once inside this camper, investigators found more than a gram of crystal methamphetamine along with needles and digital scales.
Investigators learned that Farmer had involvement with a third camper at Buffalo Creek Marina that was stolen from Dorchester County.
“This was an excellent example of having the ability to receive information from the community and then be willing to do the hard work to bring this case to fruition,” said Foster. “We treasure the relationship we have with the public and other agencies. After receiving the information, the investigators worked together with York County and the other agencies to recover this valuable property and get these people who steal to support their drugs off the streets.”
All three campers were seized and have been returned to the jurisdictions from which they were stolen. The campers had a combined value of approximately $100,000.
Dianna Christine Parkin, 38, of 145 Smallwood Drive in Chapin, who was also staying in the camper and knew it was stolen as well as about the possession of the drugs, was arrested and charged with receiving stolen goods, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Upon her arrest, investigators found pills in Parkin’s possession that were determined to be a controlled substance leading them to charge her with the additional charge of possession of a controlled substance.