Two men were arrested Friday after Spartanburg County authorities say they were soliciting donations for a charity they are not affiliated with.
Lt. Tony Ivey of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said that deputies observed two men soliciting money while standing in the roadway at the intersection of Highway 9 and Rainbow Lake Road. Deputies spoke with the two men, identified as 45-year old Antoine Clarence Smith, of Marshville, North Carolina; and Joshua Matthews, of Charlotte, and were told that they work for a charitable organization from Charlotte and were soliciting money.
Investigators called the organization and were told the Smith and Matthews did not work for them. Investigators learned that the two men had been collecting the money for their personal use.
Deputies confiscated the plastic containers with the money inside and cited Matthews and Smith for soliciting. Matthews and Smith were also charged with hitchhiking and are currently being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center on a $237.50 bond.
Ivey said that Smith has an extensive criminal background that includes driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, larceny, assault with a deadly weapon and breaking and entering among other crimes. Ivey further stated that Matthews has two previous arrests in South Carolina for soliciting.
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