Deputies: Store clerk fakes robbery for attention | Crime

A store clerk is in jail after making a false report that he was robbed and cut by an assailant, according to sheriff’s deputies.

According to the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Steven Paul Barnett was working at Stoy’s Store on Lockhart Rd., Kershaw, SC on May 15, when he called the Kershaw County 911 center and reported that a man had attempted to rob him and cut his face with an unknown object.

Deputies responded to the call, along with bloodhounds and a team of investigators.

Once at the store, deputies say Barnett began changing his story and stated that the suspect was of a different race then previously reported.

Investigators quickly determined that Barnett was not telling the truth and questioned him about the veracity of his story.

Deputies say Barnett maintained that he was telling the truth until investigators advised him that he would be given a polygraph test. At that time he admitted that he had made up the story.

Barnett told them that he had fabricated the entire story and cut himself on the face with a box cutter in order to gain sympathy from his ex-girlfriend, according to deputies

According to Barnett’s employer, the store owner, Barnett had done similar type things before in order to gain attention.

Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews stated, “with all of the serious crime issues we are dealing with and with our very limited resources, this kind of behavior on the part of a grown man is ridiculous. Twelve deputies responded to this call, as did an EMS unit. Officers who were off duty and some of whom were awakened from sleep after working a shift responded like they always do. Now we find out that he made this whole thing up to make his ex-girlfriend feel sorry for him. I hope when he is found guilty and sentenced he will be required to reimburse Kershaw County for the expense involved in responding to this incident.”

Barnett is currently being detained in the Kershaw County Detention Center after being charged with Filing a False Police Report/Felony. He has an arrest record dating back to 1996 to include charges for petty larceny, burglary 3rd offense, attempted escape, malicious injury to personal property, making implements to be used in a crime and forgery, according to sheriff’s deputies.