Former SC Highway Patrol trooper, wife charged for shoplifting at Walmart

The ex-South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who was charged after he shot an unarmed man in a gas station parking lot during a traffic stop in 2014 was recently charged for shoplifting along with his wife, officials said.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Sean Martin Groubert, 32, and 23-year-old Morgan Groubert were both charged with shoplifting on Oct. 18 at the Walmart located in the 10000 block of Two Notch Road.

Lott said deputies responded to the store after receiving a call from the store’s loss prevention employee. When deputies arrived, Lott said the employee told them that both Sean and Morgan Groubert were at the self-check out register paying for $136.04 worth of merchandise with $29.84.

Further investigation revealed that the price tags were changed on the items to alter the prices, Lott said.

Groubert was fired from the S.C. Highway Patrol shortly after Sept. 4, 2014 when his dash cam video recorded Groubert firing several shots at 36-year-old Levar Edward Jones. Several of Groubert’s shots hit Jones in the hip as Jones reached inside of his vehicle to retrieve his driver’s license from his wallet.

Fifth Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson had Groubert indicted on a charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. A trial date has not yet been set in relation to that charge.

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This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 9:02 AM with the headline "Former SC Highway Patrol trooper, wife charged for shoplifting at Walmart."