Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Charges Three Men in Relation to Catalytic Converter Theft Investigations

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that charges have been filed against three men in relation to two separate investigations involving the theft of catalytic converters.

The names of the men are revealed below, along with their charges as well:

• 30 year old Brandon Eugene Thomas of Spring Drive in Westminster. Thomas has been charged with one count of Grand Larceny and five counts each of Malicious Injury to Real Property and Breaking into a Motor Vehicle.
• 27 year old Brandon Paul Anderson of Anderson Road in Seneca. Anderson has been charged with one count of Grand Larceny, two counts of Petit Larceny and seven counts each of Malicious Injury to Real Property and Breaking into a Motor Vehicle.
• 34 year old Kristofer Ryan Summerlin, who has listed address of Kathys Drive in Seneca according to the Oconee County Detention Center. Summerlin has been charged with one count of Grand Larceny, two counts of Petit Larceny and seven counts each of Malicious Injury to Real Property and Breaking into a Motor Vehicle.

All three subjects were served their warrants at the Oconee County Detention Center as they were in custody on unrelated charges.

Thomas was arrested Wednesday at the Days Inn location on S. Radio Station Road in Seneca on charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Breaking into a Motor Vehicle and Grand Larceny. The charges were related to two separate investigations involving a stolen vehicle that was reported to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office on March 31st of this year and a vehicle theft and break-in that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the South Union Landing on Boat Ramp Road near Chickasaw Point.

Summerlin and Anderson were taken into custody on Monday of this week after investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division responded to Kathys Drive in Seneca in regards to the investigation into the stolen catalytic converters. Anderson was taken into custody on an outstanding Magistrate Bench Warrant. Summerlin was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant on a charge of Shoplifting from the Dollar General in West Union in November of 2020. Summerlin was also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Controlled Substance for having narcotics in his possession at the Kathys Drive address on Monday.

Based on evidence that was gathered during the investigation, investigators determined that Thomas, Anderson and Summerlin took five catalytic converters from the Bountyland Automotive location near the Bountyland Community on or about April 1st, according to arrest warrants. All three are also charged with causing damage and breaking into a 2012 Chevy Silverado, a 2000 GMC Sierra, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo and a 1992 Toyota Pickup by cutting off the catalytic converters and causing damage, according to arrest warrants.

In a separate incident, Summerlin and Anderson have been charged with breaking into two vehicles at an address on Stoney Drive near Seneca, a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country and a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and taking the catalytic converters from both vehicles sometime between Sunday and Monday of this week, according to arrest warrants.

At this time, all three subjects remain in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center. In regards to bond amounts pertaining to the catalytic converter theft investigations, Anderson has a combined $32,050.00 surety bond, Summerlin has a combined $46,460.00 surety bond and Thomas has a combined $22,050.00 surety bond.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.