Joint investigation leads to several felony charges in Bladen County

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two people have been arrested for a string of alleged vehicle thefts between October and now.

A joint investigation between the Bladen and Sampson County sheriff’s offices and the state DMV allegedly found that Markham Scott Smith, 53, and Rebecca Ann Stripling, 42, both from Garland, had scrapped several of the stolen vehicles at various local scrap yards.

Smith has been charged with three counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle, one count of second-degree trespassing, one count of felony breaking and entering, one count of felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and one count of felony breaking and entering in Bladen County.

Smith is currently being held at Bladen County Detention Center under a $75,000 secured bond.

Stripling has been charged with one count of larceny of a motor vehicle in Bladen County. Stripling was given a $3,000 secured bond.

This investigation is still ongoing, and more charges are expected.