Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Files Additional Charges against Westminster Man Arrested Late Last Week

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that additional charges have been filed in separate investigations against a Westminster man who was arrested earlier this week on charges related to a recent armed robbery

42 year old William Roger McGuffin of Old Well Road was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 8:51am yesterday morning on outstanding warrants on charges of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime, Petit Larceny and Armed Robbery while armed with a Deadly Weapon. The charges against McGuffin were obtained after an investigation into an incident that occurred on Durham Brown Road in Fair Play during the early morning hours of December 16th, 2020. Information on that investigation was released by the Sheriff’s Office in a press release yesterday.

During that incident, McGuffin is accused of assaulting a male occupant with a handgun after the victim exited a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. McGuffin then stole the vehicle by use or threat of force while armed with the same weapon.

The stolen Chevrolet Malibu was discovered during the morning hours of December 18th by a deputy from the P.A.C.E. (Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement) team, acting on information received by an investigator from the Criminal Investigations Division, at McGuffin’s home address on Old Well Road. The deputy made contact with an occupant of the vehicle, later identified as McGuffin, who drove away on the property and then fled the scene on foot. During the investigation of the incident on Old Well Road, the deputy located a quantity of narcotics and a firearm inside of the vehicle. The serial number on the firearm was obliterated.

Based upon evidence obtained during that particular investigation, McGuffin was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon with the Original Serial Number Removed or Obliterated and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle.

McGuffin was taken into custody after investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division received word on January 6th of a reported stolen vehicle, a gold 2000 Buick Century, located at a residence on Pickens Road near Westminster. The Sheriff’s Office was notified that the vehicle was stolen on January 3rd. Investigators discovered the vehicle on scene and received permission from the homeowner to search the residence. Investigators discovered that a subject, identified as McGuffin, was attempting to flee the residence. McGuffin was taken into custody while wearing body armor.

Based upon evidence gathered as a result of the investigation of the incident on Pickens Road, an investigator obtained arrest warrants against McGuffin on charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Unlawful Possession and Use of Body Armor.

At the request of the arrestee, McGuffin was transported by paramedics to the hospital and was released. After arriving at the Oconee County Detention Center, a Corrections Officer discovered a quantity of narcotics on McGuffin’s person while he was being processed. Based upon the discovery of narcotics at the Detention Center, McGuffin was also charged with Possession of Contraband at a Detention Facility and Possession of Methamphetamine.

McGuffin has also been charged with one count of Receiving Stolen Goods and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle in regards to an investigation that began during the early morning hours of November 23rd, 2020. A deputy from the Uniform Patrol Division discovered an abandoned yellow 2008 Yamaha motorcycle with its headlights on at an address on Greenfield Road near Westminster. The deputy was notified that the motorcycle was reported stolen to the Clemson Police Department on June 9th of last year and that the tag on the motorcycle was reported stolen to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

McGuffin, who was also served an arrest warrant from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, remains in custody today at the Oconee County Detention Center on a combined $150,500 surety bond on 16 warrants, 15 of those charges filed by the Sheriff’s Office.