Deputies obtain warrants on four people

Staff Writer

gjohnson@theeasleyprogress.com

SIX MILE - A vehicle theft and fire, severe burns and blackmail all connect with four Pickens County residents, deputies say.

It all started when a burned car was discovered off of Kelly Mill Road on May 26, according to a sheriff's office release.

Investigators learned the car was reported stolen out of Greenville City the day it was found, the release said.

"The investigation revealed that Brittany L. Yongue and Leann M. Sutherland, both of Six Mile, took the vehicle without the owner's permission while in Greenville City," the release said.

The 1992 Acura Legend was then taken to Kelly Mill Road where "Phillip S. Towe, also of Six Mile, and Nicholas S. Barrett from Liberty set fire to the vehicle. Barrett sustained injuries from the fire," and was taken to Palmetto Health Baptist Easley by relatives, the release said.

Barrett was later airlifted to the burn center in Augusta, Ga., the release said. Although he has since been released, he is still being treated for his injuries, the release said.

Brittany Lynn Yongue, 18, of 196 N. Smith St., Six Mile, is charged with misprision of a felony - neglect in reporting a crime, according to a warrant.

The warrant said Yongue was involved in theft of the vehicle and knew that it had been set on fire. When questioned by deputies, Yongue is accused of deliberately withholding information and contacting the others accused of what police were looking for, the warrant said.

"The defendant's actions were a futile attempt to conceal her knowledge of the felony and hindered law enforcement with bringing the felons to justice," the warrant said.

Phillip Spencer Towe, 22, of 172 Bridwell Road, Six Mile; and Nicholas Scott Barrett, 20, of 409 Hunter Mill Road, Liberty, are charged with third degree arson for "maliciously" setting fire to the car by pouring gasoline over it and igniting it "in an effort to destroy physical evidence," according to warrants.

Jeremy Benjamin Millard, 29, of 209 Colony Drive, Liberty, is charged with three counts of blackmail or extortion of $7,000 collectively from Yongue, Towe and Sutherland, according to warrants.

If the trio didn't pay, "there would be consequences," according to warrants.

The warrant alleges Millard threatened Sutherland that if she didn't pay, the owner of the car would "hurt her and her family."

Millard was arrested on June 3 in an unrelated matter and was charged with blackmail on June 4, the release said.

After posting $11,500 surety bond, Millard was released from the Pickens County Detention Center on Friday, the release said.

Towe was also arrested but was awaiting a bond hearing as of Monday.

Other warrants have yet to be served, but arrangements have been made for the suspects to turn themselves in, the release said.