Greenwood, S.C.; October 27, 2021 — A Greenwood woman who exacted revenge on a former employer after being terminated by breaking into the establishment and stealing money was found guilty Wednesday at a trial in her absence, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced.
Jamie Lynn Barbee, 34, of Donalds was found guilty Wednesday by a Greenwood County jury of second-degree burglary (violent) and grand larceny, value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Barbee failed to appear for court after being given notice of trial, and the case was tried starting Monday afternoon in her absence.
Circuit Judge Frank Addy Jr. issued a sentence following the trial and then sealed it per state law until Barbee is apprehended.. She will then be brought before the Court to unseal and impose her sentence. Barbee is facing up to 15 years on the burglary conviction, and up to 5 additional years on the grand larceny conviction.
In October 2019, Barbee was terminated from employment at Fatz Restaurant in Greenwood. Several days later, surveillance video showed Barbee enter the restaurant and steal money from the safe. The restaurant reported nearly $2,900 missing from the safe in the office the next day.
Deputy Solicitor Yates Brown and Assistant Solicitor Christian Capps prosecuted the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Windy Chappell. Barbee was represented by Don Colongeli and Tristan Shaffer of the 8th Circuit Public Defender’s Office.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his prosecution team along with the Greenwood Police Department and Master Deputy Chase Sanders, who was an officer with GPD at the time of the incident, in securing the conviction.
“In times as difficult as these, we have lost patience in our community for thieves like Jamie Barbee,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the trial. “We would encourage anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Jamie Lynn Barbee to contact law enforcement immediately so that she can be brought to justice.”