South Euclid Man Sentenced to Nine Years for $104,000 Rural King Theft Ring

A South Euclid man will spend nine years in prison for stealing over $100,000 from Ohio farm supply stores. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the sentence. Byron Carner, 35, pleaded guilty in Clark County Common Pleas Court to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. He also pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft. The judge sentenced him immediately after the plea. Tools Taken From Rural King Stores Between June and October 2024, Carner stole more than $104,000 in merchandise from Rural King stores. Most of the stolen items were tools. He then sold the goods at pawn shops. The thefts happened in 10 counties: Belmont, Clark, Gallia, Greene, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Medina, Sandusky and Union. Medina County is the closest of those locations to Northeast Ohio shoppers. Police Chase Led to Arrests Carner and two suspected accomplices were arrested Oct. 2, 2024. A vehicle pursuit led to the arrests. The St. Clairsville Police Department, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were involved in the chase. Cases against the two suspected accomplices remain pending in Clark County Common Pleas Court. Carner is already serving a prison sentence from a separate case. Attorney General Calls for a Unified Approach Wilson said the case shows the value of working across county lines. “This is how you prosecute organized crime – by taking a unified approach to crimes that cross county lines,” Wilson said. He added that organized retail theft affects everyone. “Holding thieves accountable helps keep local stores open and stops theft from inflating prices,” Wilson said. Who Handled the Case The German Township Police Department investigated with help from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted the case. Wilson served as a special prosecutor.