29 yr old South Carolina Mayoral candidate fakes her own kidnapping

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A woman running to be Sumter’s next mayor has been accused of staging her kidnapping and beating on Facebook Live.

Sabrina Belcher, 29, of Cabelas Place, was arrested Wednesday and charged with filing a false police report of a felony and conspiracy. According to Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the Sumter Police Department, Belcher said she planned the incident, recorded it and posted it on social media.

Officers were called to the police department before 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and met with Belcher, who reported she was assaulted and kidnapped by an unknown man during an attempted robbery, McGirt said. McGirt said Belcher was injured and that her vehicle windows had been knocked out. Belcher was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital and later released.

Belcher reportedly provided a fake name of her attacker.

Officers claim Belcher worked with Christopher James Eaddy, 34, of Olive Street, to plan and stage the incident. Eaddy was also arrested on Wednesday and charged with conspiracy.

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Warrants state Eaddy conspired with Belcher to fabricate a criminal incident in order to falsely report a felony staged in the Hoyt Street area. The warrants also said Eaddy told officers Belcher hired him to help stage the incident and make it look like an opposing candidate in the election was behind the attack. According to the warrants, Belcher agreed to pay Eaddy to damage her vehicle and simulate assault.

Both were taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, where jail records show Belcher was given two $5,000 surety bonds. She had not posted bond as of press time Thursday. Eaddy was given a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and was released Thursday, according to Deputy Adrienne Sarvis, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

Police say the incident was meant to “garner publicity, sympathy and votes in the November election,” that Belcher reportedly attempted to “discredit a fellow candidate in the recording” and had “ongoing plans to smear other mayoral candidates prior to the election.”

The incident report was not available yet when the department announced her arrest.

McGirt said she could not specify which candidates Belcher planned to smear and did not specify how the plan would tarnish the candidate. Belcher is one of six candidates who has filed to run for mayor.

“This was simply an effort to create disorder and discontent in our community for personal gain,” Police Chief Russell Roark said. “As a result, a valuable number of resources, including personnel, man hours of the police department as well as local medical professionals, were wasted based on false information.”

The number listed on Belcher's candidate statement of intent with the S.C. Election Commission went straight to voicemail. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

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