Mother’s truck stolen with child inside in Lexington. Deputies make arrest
A mother in Lexington went into the gas and when she returned her truck was gone and her child, according to authorities.
Wednesday, while inside a gas station at the corner of Highway 6 and Mimosa Drive in Gaston, the woman’s truck was stolen with her 3-year-old daughter inside shortly after midday, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in a statement.
Deputies responded and searched the surrounding neighborhoods, Koon said. About 30 minutes after the mother reported her daughter missing, officers spotted the stolen vehicle 10 miles away at the intersection of Platt Springs and Ramblin roads near Christ Center Church.
Police arrested Roberto Lee Herrera, 39, for the alleged vehicle theft. The child was unharmed and reunited with her mother.
“Thanks to the swift actions of our deputies, a little girl will be with her family tonight,” Koon said.
Court records show that Herrera was charged with petit larceny. He was booked at Lexington County Detention Center where as of midday Thursday he is still held.
Other charges maybe forthcoming, according to detectives.
In 2018, police charged Herrera with third degree domestic violence and a judge issued a restraining order against him from contacting or being around the victim, according to court records. In early July, court officials allowed Herrera to plead no contest to a reduced charge of third degree assault and battery with the stipulation that he attend counseling, court filings show.
Herrera has a history of minor financial crimes. He was charged with using a stolen credit card in 2008, according to records. In 2011, he was charged with writing fraudulent checks and, later, sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution, which he failed to pay, court filings show. He spent 30 days in prison in 2016 for check fraud.
This story was originally published July 25, 2019 at 10:26 AM.