An Enfield man who is a salvage yard operator has a November 20 court date after he was charged last week on counts reflecting violations in the operation of his business in the Medoc area off Highway 48.

The investigation into Samuel O’Neal Mills, 30, was conducted by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau on October 31, Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The investigation, Hall said in the statement, uncovered numerous violations into the operation of the business.

Detective Matt Brown of the sheriff’s office said DMV also has jurisdiction in matters involving the operation of salvage yards.

Brown, who investigated the case with DMV, said the investigation began when it was discovered Mills hadn’t obtained a purchasing permit for Medoc Metals in two years. Salvage yard operators can’t purchase any kind of scrap until they obtain a purchasing permit from the county.

Brown did say since the charges were filed, Mills has obtained that permit from the county.

In addition to the one count of operating without a permit, Mills was charged with eight counts of failure to maintain required records records and receipts for regulated metals and seven counts for violating the law concerning permissible payment methods for nonferrous metals.

In the counts reflecting failure to maintain required records, Brown said there are set guidelines and most of the counts in that category reflect Mills didn’t take a photo of the seller with the property. The other violation in that category is failing to obtain a fingerprint from the seller, which is required by law.

In the counts regulating permissible payment methods, Brown said salvage yard operators can’t pay out cash for copper and can’t make more than a $100 cash payment per transaction per day for anything.

Mills received a $2,050 bond and awaits a November 20 court date.