FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 March 2008

Orangeburg funeral home owner
Arrested for second time on tax charges

South Carolina Department of Revenue criminal investigative agents arrested the owner of an Orangeburg funeral home today on multiple charges of failing to file his state tax returns. 

Robert Bethea, 54, owner of Bethea Funeral Home, was charged with six counts of failure to file individual income tax returns. He is being held at the Orangeburg/Calhoun Counties Regional Law Enforcement Center pending a bond hearing. 

Bethea is accused of failing to file state income tax returns from 2000 – 2006. His state income tax liability is $26,574 for that period.

It is the second time in eight years Bethea has been charged with failing to report and pay his state taxes. The revenue department arrested Bethea in 2000 on four counts of failing to file tax returns. Bethea pled guilty to those charges in 2001 and was placed under five years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $14,280.

Bethea is facing up to six years in prison and fines of up to $60,000 if convicted of the new charges.

###