Theft Charge Dropped in Byrd Case

Columbus County Commissioner Giles “Buddy” Byrd saw his larceny charge dropped in a Bladen County theft case.

Court records show that the Bladen County District Attorney’s Office decided to dismiss the single charge of larceny against Byrd. The available evidence, including video footage, was not sufficient for a conviction, the DA’s office said.

A second man involved in the case, an employee of Byrd, denied that Byrd knew about the larceny, and was found guilty of misdemeanor larceny. He was sentenced to 120 days in the misdemeanant confinement program.

Byrd, 77, was charged with larceny after he and the second suspect were caught on camera on a farm near Tar Heel. The second suspect took a$125 bucket of hydraulic fluid from the property.