A 29-year-old Florence woman allegedly lied about purchasing four guns before giving one of them to the man accused of shooting and killing a 27-year-old Darlington County sheriff’s deputy in July.
Kristen Taylor Porter faces a five-count federal indictment in connection with the death of Deputy Frank “Devin” Mason, according to a news release from the FBI Field Office in Columbia. Cameron Ray Dennett ambushed Mason and another deputy on July 1 inside a mobile home on Old Timers Court, near Lamar.
Porter is charged with making false statements in connection with the purchase of four guns in February and March, according to an FBI news release issued Thursday. Porter allegedly gave Dennett the gun used to kill Mason and injure Deputy Jacob Heatherly, despite knowing he was not allowed to have a weapon.
Porter is also facing state charges in the case after being arrested at the scene of the shooting and charged with criminal conspiracy, two counts of forgery, and second-degree computer act. She was released on a $16,000 bond but was returned to custody on Thursday, according to online records from the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center.
According to the FBI indictment, Porter lied when purchasing the four firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer, claiming “that she was the actual transferee/buyer of all the firearms when, in fact, she was purchasing at least some of the firearms for others.”
“I would like to thank SLED, the FBI, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their rapid response to this very serious matter, a case that involved taking the life of a Deputy and wounding another in the line of duty,” Darlington County Sheriff Michael August said in the news release.
“This investigation and prosecution send a very clear message that anyone involved in causing harm to members of law enforcement—officers who protect our communities every day—that swift justice will follow.”
Linda Dennett, Cameron’s mother, is also facing state charges in connection with the shooting. She was charged with obstruction and misprision of a felony after being arrested on July 3, two days after the shooting.
Before her son was shot and killed, she allegedly told deputies she had no idea where he was, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
On September 8, Linda Dennett posted a $100,000 bond and was released from jail, according to online records.
