Two Westminster men are behind bars this week after Oconee County deputies say they robbed a man near Poor Farm Lake. Kevin Wayne Maler, 60, and Joe Navarro, III, 44, each face one count of armed robbery while armed with a deadly weapon and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
According to the Oconee County Sheriff's Office
According to the report, the case began on August 13 when a deputy assigned to the agency's uniform patrol bureau met with an adult male victim who reported an armed robbery. The report identifies the Poor Farm boat ramp off Camp Road at Poor Farm Lake as the incident location. The case was turned over to violent crimes investigators with the agency's criminal investigations bureau.
Investigators with the agency's criminal investigations bureau handled the case after it was referred to them.
An Unrelated Traffic Stop Led to Navarro's Arrest
Navarro was arrested on August 17. Additional charges against him include methamphetamine distribution and driving under suspension. He remained in custody, and the report lists a $50,000 surety bond for the drug-distribution charge and a $2,100 surety bond for driving under suspension.
Maler also faces the armed-robbery and weapon charges.
Both Suspects Have Extensive Records in Oconee County
Neither man is a stranger to Oconee County law enforcement. Navarro was arrested in February 2025 on charges including second-offense methamphetamine distribution, driving without a license, and giving false information to police, with a judge at the time setting his initial bonds at a combined $36,545, according to WSNW 94.1 FM. He has also faced additional drug charges, according to the sheriff's office.
Maler's prior law-enforcement history is also referenced in reports cited by the article.
What South Carolina Law Says About the Charges
South Carolina law includes provisions addressing armed robbery.
It also includes a provision addressing weapons during violent crimes.
