An Oil City man who was extradited last month from South Carolina has been charged in Forest County for violating probation.
Gaven James Rinker, 23, was extradited from the Charleston County jail in South Carolina, and chief deputy William Carbaugh of the Forest County Sheriff’s Department brought Rinker back to Pennsylvania.
After the investigation, a misdemeanor charge of flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment was filed Tuesday against Rinker.
Carbaugh said Rinker posted his place of employment in South Carolina on a social media profile. After contacting the employer, the Forest County sheriff’s department sent South Carolina law enforcement to arrest Rinker at the employment site.
Rinker was also wanted in Venango County on DUI charges, according to court documents.
Carbaugh said Forest County District Attorney Barbara Litten and Venango County District Attorney Shawn White agreed to split the cost of extradition between the two counties.
Carbaugh said Rinker was friendly during transport and seemed relieved to put the incident behind him.
His choice to travel to South Carolina may have been made based on some faulty research, Carbaugh said.
“He kept talking about how he didn’t think we could come and get him,” Carbaugh said. “He had done some research on the internet, and he believed that South Carolina was a non-extraditable state.”
“It depends on the severity of the charge,” Carbaugh said. “He had charges in two different counties side by side. Ultimately, the decision is up to the district attorney.”
Rinker is being held in the Warren County jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, before district judge Daniel Miller.
