wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |Bond set at $50,000 for Hartsville store owner

HARTSVILLE, SC (WMBF)  The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has arrested the owner of a Hartsville store who claimed she was assaulted and robbed in January.

According to a release from SLED, Claudette Hulsey, 47, of Hartsville was charged Thursday with arson/burning personal property to defraud insurer, presenting a false claim for insurance payment, making a false insurance claim to obtain benefits for fire loss, filing a false police report of a felony violation and arson in the third degree.

[To view the arrest warrants from SLED, click each charge (PDF)]

SLIDESHOW - Jack Be Nimble Arrest

Click here to view a photo gallery of the case.

On January 26, both Hartsville Police and Hartsville Fire units responded to the Jack Be Nimble children's clothing boutique located at 140 E. Carolina Ave. after a 911 call for help.

Upon arrival, officers found Hulsey on the floor with the store on fire.

Officers said in January two black males allegedly entered the store after dark and proceeded to assault and rob Hulsey before setting the store on fire. A reward of up to $25,000 was offered by the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce for any information leading to an arrest of those responsible for the crime.

In February, SLED sketch artists released sketches of three men reportedly listed as possible witnesses to the crime, and urged members of the public to come forward with any information as to their identities.

Those men never existed.

Members of the Hartsville community came together in support of Hulsey following the incident. On February 3, The Church in Hartsville posted a video on YouTube of a prayer chain held in honor of Hulsey and Jack B. Nimble.

Lines of people swarmed up and down E. Carolina Ave. to pray and show their support in other ways and almost 5,000 views have been made on the video so far.

Thursday, Mayor Mel Pennington spoke exclusively with WMBF News. "Together we're going to move forward. That's what I love about Hartsville, this community's ability to bounce back," he said.

Friday, Pennington issued the following statement:

I don't want to dwell on this crime; I believe it has received enough attention.  I would like to remind our citizens that this matter will be settled in court. It is not for us to judge, to condemn or condone. Of course the City of Hartsville would like to thank SLED, the Sheriff's Office, the Hartsville Police Department, the tireless efforts of all the local, and national, law enforcement agencies involved.  Our thoughts are with all those affected.  Despite the shock or the anger, these events did succeed in helping to unite a community.  What we witnessed earlier this year was an outpouring of love, people banding together in their resolve to make our streets safer, and that is a good thing.  That is something to be proud of.  My hope is that we will continue to hold on to that recommitment to our city because the only way we can move forward is together

Hulsey is being held at the Darlington County Detention Center. Bond was set at a $10,000 surety bond for each charge, totaling $50,000.

Stay with WMBF News and WMBFNews.com as we continue to work with officials to learn all the new developments in the case.

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