SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) – Spartanburg County’s 7th District Solicitor said a man pleaded guilty to a number of property crimes and was sentenced Wednesday.
Officials said that on September 16, 2023, the homeowner on Oakridge Court in Wellford heard Michael Trevor Barton, 32, in his wife’s BMW with a dog and an assault rifle.
Barton held the homeowner at gunpoint and stole the vehicle. Barton was later identified by the homeowner.
During an investigation, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office determined that Barton had broken into a home on Oakridge Court the day before and stolen items, including a spare key to the BMW. Following additional investigation by Landrum Police and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement determined that Barton had committed a series of property crimes in the Wellford, Duncan, Lyman and Landrum areas.
Barton was later arrested following a pursuit by Spartanburg County deputies in September 2024.
Barton was sentenced to 20 years on the following charges:
- Four counts of first-degree burglary,
- Attempted armed robbery
- Possessing a weapon while committing a violent crime
- Four counts of grand larceny
- Two counts of petty theft
- Two cases of receiving stolen goods
- Malicious damage to personal property
- Burglary of a motor vehicle
- Failure to stop a motor vehicle when signaled by a law enforcement vehicle
- Using a vehicle without the owner’s consent
- Possession of a stolen pistol
On each count of first-degree burglary, Barton was sentenced to 20 years in prison, officials said. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted armed robbery. Officials said all sentences would be served concurrently.
His prior criminal record includes convictions for shoplifting, petit larceny, third-degree assault and battery, unlawful neglect of a child and second-degree domestic violence.
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