Bladen County Superior Court was in session Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5. Judge Douglas B. Sasser presided. Some of the plea agreements reached were:

** Qushawnda Mae Moore, 22, plead guilty to felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance under a deferred prosecution agreement. Sentenced to 12 months supervised probation. If she fulfills terms of the agreement, charges will be dismissed. Charges of simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.

In a court summary, on Aug. 24, 2015, Moore was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a Bladen County  Sheriff’s deputy on N.C. 87. The officer detected an odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle found a drink can with no fluid, but had a clear plastic bag that had an unknown substance in it that fell to the ground. The substance tested positive for cocaine. The driver told the deputy the can and bag belonged to Moore.

** Nathasha Lakeith Rogers, 41, plead guilty to misdemeanor larceny and attempted misdemeanor larceny. Sentenced to 45 days in custody, which was suspended, and placed on supervised probation for 12 months and ordered to make $20 restitution to Family Dollar store in Elizabethtown. Charges of attempt to obtain property by false pretense, possess counterfeit instrument, currency or check, and obtain property by false pretense were dismissed.

In a court summary, on Aug. 30, 2015, Rogers attempted to make a purchase at the Kangaroo convenience store on Poplar Street in Elizabethtown with a counterfeit $20 bill, but was told by the clerk that the bill was counterfeit. She then went to the Family Dollar store nearby and used the counterfeit bill to make a purchase.

** Jasper Lucas Smith, 47, plead guilty to sell Schedule II controlled substance, sell Schedule IV controlled substance and maintain dwelling or vehicle to keep or sell controlled substance. Sentenced to 12 to 24 months in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation and to make $54 restitution to the Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. Several other drug-related charges were dismissed.

In a court summary, on two occasions – Nov. 8, 2014 and Jan. 16, 2015 – ALE agents set up purchases of prescription medication in meetings with Jacobs at his home in Tar Heel. The first purchase was for $4 of Valium and the second was for $50 of Percocet.

** Douglas O’Neil Thaggard, 46, plead guilty to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Sentenced to 120 in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 12 months supervised probation. Charges of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute cocaine, deliver cocaine and manufacturing cocaine were dismissed.

In a court summary, an undercover agent bought a bag of crack cocaine from Thaggard on March 31, 2015. The bag was considered drug paraphernalia.

** Jessica Hales Dowless, 40, plead guilty to misdemeanor larceny. Sentenced to 12 months supervised probation. Charges of felony larceny and obtain property by false pretense were dismissed.

In a court summary, Dowless purchased items at Wal-Mart in Elizabethtown and also had Metamucil in her bag which she did not pay for. She returned the items to Wal-Mart and was reimbursed for the purchases, including $15.85 for the unpaid Metamucil.

** Savannah Nicole Waters, 20, plead guilty to possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana. Sentenced under a conditional discharge of 12 months of supervised probation, which means if she has no violations during probation, the charge will be removed from her record. Charges of manufacture marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.

In a court summary, on Aug. 17, 2015, Waters was a passenger in a vehicle at a license check on Airport Road in Elizabethtown. During the check, an officer smelled the odor of marijuana in the car. A search of the vehicle found 118 grams of marijuana, blunts and wrappers.

** Larry Gene Rouse, 65, plead guilty to assault with deadly weapon on a government official. Sentenced to 16 to 29 months in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation and no longer allowed to have firearms in the house. Charges of assault by pointing a gun, resisting a public officer and discharge weapon into occupied property were dismissed.

In a court summary, on March 31, 2015, officers were called to Rouse’s house after his daughter called saying Rouse had been “acting strange,” had consumed alcohol and had a shotgun. There were two juveniles in the house at the time. Upon arrival, officers were told by Rouse’s daughter that he had more ammunition. Officers noticed movement in the house and it appeared someone had a gun. Rouse then came out of house and begin running toward an officer while pointing a pocketknife. The officer used a Taser on Rouse to stop the approach.

** Lisa Kay Merriman, 50, plead guilty to two counts of larceny by employee. Sentenced to 12 to 34 months in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation and ordered to make restitution of $715 to Southeastern Veterinary Services. Several other charges of larceny by employee were dismissed.

In a court summary, while employed with Southeastern Veterinary Services, Merriman used a company credit card for personal use without permission.

** Hubert R. Locklear, 50, plead guilty to possession of stolen goods. Sentenced to 6 to 17 months in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation and ordered to make restitution of $4,785 to Hester Tire of Bladenboro. He also is not to go on the property of Hester Tire.

In a court summary, on May 10, 2013, Lockleary and another man broke into Hester Tire and took several items, including a semi-truck valued at $75,000. The truck was later recovered.

** Danny L. Hedgepeth, 57, plead guilty to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. Sentenced to 15 to 27 months in custody, which was reduced to an active split of 27 days, which he had already served, and placed on 24 months supervised probation. A charge of selling a Schedule II controlled substance was dismissed.

In a court summary, on Dec. 4, 2014, the White Lake Police Department received a tip from a confidential source that Hedgepeth was selling prescription oxycodone at a residence on White Lake Drive. The residence was staked out and officers noticed someone leave the residence after being there for about 90 seconds. The vehicle of the person leaving the residence was clocked going 50 mph in a 35 zone. In checking the vehicle, officers found 20 oxycodone pills the driver had bought from Hedgepeth.

** Rasheena Reid, 19, plead guilty to felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance.  Sentenced to 12 months supervised probation and ordered to perform 48 hours of community service within 90 days under a conditional discharge agreement. If she has no violations during probation, the charge will be removed from her record. Charges of possession of marijuana paraphernalia and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance were dismissed.

In a court summary, on June 28, 2015, during a traffic stop, an officer detected an odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle found 17.6 grams of marijuana under the seat in a CD case and a set of scales. Heroin was found in the glove box.

** Betty Ann Alford, 31, plead guilty to injury to personal property. Sentenced to 30 days in custody, which was suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $169 to the victims. She also was ordered to have no contact with the victims. A charge of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering were dismissed.

In a court summary, on Oct. 22, 2015, Alford’s ex-boyfriend noticed her coming out of his residence. The man noticed the side door had been forced open. Inside the residence, a sofa cushion was cut up and a woman’s sweatshirt belong to the man’s girlfriend was damaged.

Gerrod Basil Ellison

A Riegelwood man who was charged with armed robbery of the Butters Quick Shop last year was sentenced Tuesday in Bladen County Superior Court under a plea agreement with the state.

Gerrod Basil Ellison, 25, was sentenced to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a stolen firearm. He was sentenced to 25 to 51 months in custody, which was reduced to six months in custody, which he has already served, and 36 months supervised probation and ordered to not go on the property of Butters Quick Stop nor have any contact with Robert Anthony Davis, who also was charged in the robbery.

In a court summary and information from the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, Ellison was the man who entered the store armed with a handgun about 7:30 p.m. on July 11, 2015, while Davis, who is from Bladenboro, waited outside in a vehicle. Ellison took two packs of cigarettes and $217 in cash before getting back in the vehicle.

The store clerk reported the robbery and was able to give a detailed description of Ellison and the car that Davis was driving. Officers were able to run the license tag number. About an hour later, the vehicle was spotted at gas pumps at Handee Hugo’s in Bladenboro. Ellison, Davis were arrested. Two passengers in the vehicle were not charged after it was determined they did not know about the robbery. The firearm used in the robbery was found to be stolen.

During the sentencing, Ellison’s lawyer, Cindy Singletary, told the court that Ellison had been drinking and “bad judgement got in the way. He had a job before this and he’s hoping to get his job back,” Singletary said.

Sheriff James A. McVicker has issued an alert to the citizens of the county to be aware of a couple soliciting funds for the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church and for Bladen Crisis Assistance.

“We have been informed of a couple who were in the Bladenboro area this weekend going door to door selling tickets for a fund raiser by Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church,” said McVicker. “The people involved would knock on doors and offer to sell a plate of food to be delivered Sunday night. They were charging $5.00 a plate. Of course there was no fund raiser and there were no plates delivered.”

McVicker said the same suspects then went to the Lumberton area Monday and Tuesday and were working the same scam but representing themselves as members of Bladen Crisis Assistance. “They did not have tickets they were handing out but rather writing down the donor’s name and address saying they would deliver the plates later,” McVicker said.

There are two suspects working together. They work as a team. There is a white male who drives a black Z71 Chevrolet truck and a woman who is between 5’3” and 5’6”. She has strawberry blond hair, hazel eyes, freckles and possibly a scar under her left eye.

Sheriff McVicker urges anyone with information on these two individuals to call the Bladenboro Police Department, the Lumberton Police Department or the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

“This fraud was uncovered when Chris Denny, the pastor of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church and a board member of Bladen Crisis Assistance began receiving calls from victims,” McVicker said. “Please help us put a stop to this. This is a crime against everyone.”

According to reports Shana Horne was apprehended Sunday, April 10 by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department and charged with obtaining property under false pretense.

Horne is 36 years old, 5-feet-5 with hazel eyes and red or auburn hair color.

The app listed Jason Todd being apprehended on the same day and charged with fictitious or altered title, or registration, or plate. Todd is 36 years of age, 5-10, with brown hair and eyes. 

More information will be available as soon as it is provided.

Sheriff James A. McVicker said his office assisted in a search of several persons on probation at the request of North Carolina Probation and Parole. Members of the Elizabethtown Police Department and White Lake Police Department also participated  in the searches.

The searches were conducted on Friday, April 8^th.

Arrested were:

Tammy Singletary, 48, of 128 Grays Lane, White Lake. Officer’s located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her residence. Singletary was charged with possession of schedule six controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $2,500 secured.

Joshua Walters, 25, also of 128 Grays Lane, White Lake, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after officers located a syringe on Walters during the search. Walters received a $2,500 secured bond.

Dennis Sells, 37, was arrested at a residence on Sandy Ridge Road near Elizabethtown for an outstanding order for arrest for failure to appear on misdemeanor and misdemeanor probation violation.

Roy Lee Kelly, 65, of 163 McCullum Road, Clarkton, was arrested after officers located crack cocaine in his residence. Kelly was on probation for a 2014 crack cocaine conviction. He was initially arrested after an undercover drug operation by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. Kelly was charged with possession of schedule two controlled substance. His bond was set at $50,000.

“I am very proud of how well all the agencies in the county work together,” said McVicker. “It does not matter if the badge says, state, local or county, we are one team.”

Sheriff James A. McVicker announced today the arrest of two individuals believed to be involved in a flimflam operation across a three county area.

“We received a report late last week of two individuals going door to door selling tickets for a plate sale from the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church and Bladen Crisis Assistance,” said McVicker. “The two operated as a team with the woman going up to the home or business while the man sat in a black pickup. The female would take an order, write down the address and collect the money and tell the victim a plate would be delivered. The church and Bladen Crisis Assistance began to get calls from people around the county and even from Lumberton. The crime was reported and my office put out a request to the public through the media for information on the pair after we had a good description.”

McVicker said the following day that information came pouring in from victims and would be victims in Bladen, Pender and Robeson counties. The victims were able to give descriptions and names and after further investigation my detectives were able to obtain a warrant on the female. He said the two were located Sunday afternoon and arrested.

Charged with one count of Obtaining Property By False Pretense was Shana Lynn Horne, 36, of 426 Gum Springs Road, White Oak. Horne is currently in Bladen County Jail under a $10,000.00 secured bond.

Also arrested was Jason Lee Todd, 36, of 127 MLK Jr. Drive, Bladenboro. Todd was charged with Possession of a Fictitious/Altered Registration Card/Tag. He is also in Bladen County Jail under a $5,000.00 secured bond. Todd was driving a black Z71 pickup which was seized and towed.

McVicker said the two are suspects in several other cases of Obtaining Property by False Pretense in all three counties and the investigation is ongoing with multiple charges expected to be filed against them. The pair are also suspects in several break-ins of local churches recently and also residential break-ins.

“I wish to thank the public and media for helping us in this investigation,” said McVicker. “The media helped us by running the story and the public helped by calling in tips and providing information that lead to the identification of these individuals.”

Sheriff James A. McVicker said his office assisted in a search of several persons on probation at the request of North Carolina Probation and Parole. Members of the Elizabethtown Police Department and White Lake Police Department also participated  in the searches.

The searches were conducted on Friday, April 8^th.

Arrested were:

Tammy Singletary, 48 of 128 Grays Lane, White Lake. Officer’s located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her residence. Singletary was charged with Possession of Schedule Six Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $2,500.00 secured.

Joshua Walters, 25, also of 128 Grays Lane was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after officers located a syringe on Walters during the search. Walters received a $2,500.00 secured bond.

Dennis Sells, 37, was arrested at a residence on Sandy Ridge Road near Elizabethtown for an outstanding Order For Arrest For Failure to Appear on Misdemeanor and Misdemeanor Probation Violation.

Roy Lee Kelly, 65 of 163 McCullum Road, Clarkton was arrested after officers located crack cocaine in his residence. Kelly was on probation for a 2014 crack cocaine conviction. He was initially arrested after an undercover drug operation by Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. Kelly was charged with Possession of Schedule Two Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $50,000.00.

“I am very proud of how well all the agencies in the county work together,” said McVicker. “It does not matter if the badge says, state, local or county, we are one team.”

By: Erin Smith

The Bladenboro Police Department will be getting a new tool to help them in their efforts to better serve the citizens of Bladenboro. The Bladenboro Town Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve a new “standard operating procedure” for the police department involving the use of Naloxone also known as Narcan.

Naloxone (Narcan) is used to reverse or block the side effects of opioid medication and narcotics overdoses in emergency situations, according to Web MD.

Several area agencies already employ the use of Naloxone including the City of Wilmington Police Department, Carolina Beach Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, Kure Beach Police Department, Leland Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, UNCW Police Department, Boiling Springs Lake Police Department and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.  Several of these agencies have already rescued several individuals using the kits, according to the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition.

Bladenboro Town Administrator John O’Daniel told the board on Monday that Town Attorney Alan Maynard had reviewed the policy and added some additional language that reflects the current General Statutes.

Councilman Billy Ray Benson asked Maynard what the town’s liability would be if they implemented the policy. Maynard said while it is a good idea to talk with the town’s insurance company regarding liability, he also said, “I don’t think there is a lot of dispute about the science of this drug.”

After further discussion, Police Chief Chris Hunt told the board that he had gotten an email regarding Naloxone and he had made contact with the sender of the email.  He told the board that according to research he has performed, he learned that about 25,000 lives have been saved since the inception of the program.

“I feel that as Chief of Police it is my job and the job of the officers to protect the lives of the citizens. I see it (Naloxone) as a tool,” said Hunt.

He added that when the officers encounter a person who has overdosed, that person has a family somewhere and the Naloxone can potentially prevent a family from going through the heartache of having to bury their family member.

Hunt said the kit will actually walk the officer through what to do to administer it. He added that the officers will be trained on how to use the kits.

In a related matter, the board approved a new policy for the police department with regards to body cameras. O’Daniel told the board that the body cameras have arrived and the policy is needed so the department can move forward with training and implementation.

A ground breaking for the new Bladen County Law Enforcement Detention Center is planned for Monday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m. at 272 Smith Circle in Elizabethtown.

There has been some work started clearing the land for the proposed jail and law enforcement center. Also, the Bladen County Board of Commissioners recently chose ECS Carolinas LLP for the special inspections services related to the law enforcement and detention center. 

An investigation into one bus driver texting while driving has lead to her being suspended by Bladen County Schools.

According to reports, Sue McLaurin was suspended on Monday following the investigation. An internal investigation was begun after the situation was called to the attention of school officials. According to reports, she has worked for the school system since 2007 as either a bus driver or a bus monitor.

A message left for Bladen County Schools Public Relations Director Valerie Newton was unreturned as of Wednesday afternoon.

CLINTON—Taylor and Vicki Michaels will appear in Vegas Rocks On! at a special benefit performance for the Sampson Community Theatre on Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this modern day variety show that packs the coolest music, magic and comedy in a tribute to the legendary acts of Las Vegas…from the classics to the contemporary.

Powerhouse vocalist and headliner Taylor Michaels swings with musical highlights from legends like Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Elvis, Tom Jones, Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Barry Manilow and more. Entertaining audiences for over thirty years, Taylor and Vicki Michaels have worked from Las Vegas to the West and East coasts. “We produced Vegas Rocks On! to bring audiences all the excitement of a Vegas show without having to board a plane. The inspiring acts and iconic images have evolved from the Rat Pack and Elvis to Michael Bublé and Britney Spears towering over the strip, but Vegas rocks on as the entertainment capital of the world.” An award winning illusionist, Taylor Michaels really loves astonishing audiences with the magic that is woven throughout the show. “It’s all about the audience…the best part of every show is watching the audience smile, laugh and get caught up in the excitement.”

The Sampson Community Theatre Board of Directors extended an invitation for Taylor and Vicki Michaels to bring Vegas Rocks On! to the theatre following the successful performance of their Christmas show in December. Impressed with how the theatre works to keep the arts alive in Clinton, Taylor and Vicki decided to give back to the Sampson Community Theatre and worked with board member Dan Holland to organize this benefit performance for its patrons and the community at large. “I am pleased to be working with these wonderful people again, and whole-heartedly recommend their show to anyone seeking an entertaining and amazing evening,” says Dan Holland.

Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office, and are $5.00 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Sampson Community Theatre. The theatre and box office open one hour prior to the performance. To contact the Sampson Community Theatre Box Office for tickets call: 910-990-4510.

GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced Balal Theo Choudhary, a/k/a Paco Choudhary, 28, of Lumberton, to 140 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

On October 5, 2015, Choudhary pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the investigation, in December 2013, detectives with the Lumberton Police Department, Drug Enforcement Unit, initiated an investigation into the drug distribution activities of Choudhary. Leading up to December 2013, the police department received a number of complaints regarding Choudhary’s possession of firearms and the distribution of drugs from his residence in Lumberton.

Detectives conducted a controlled purchase of 0.1 gram of cocaine base from Choudhary in December, 2013. On December 13, 2013, detectives conducted a search of Choudhary’s residence and found 3 handguns, approximately 62 grams of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base, U.S. currency, scales, and drug paraphernalia.

The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lumberton Police Department, and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.

By: Erin Smith

In partnership with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Leland Police Department, and Fayetteville Police Department, the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition will host two regional gatherings on Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion or LEAD. 

LEAD is a new way of looking at policing and how law enforcement responds to low level crimes such as drug arrests. LEAD was developed in 2011 in Seattle, WA in response to the “War on Drugs.”  Through the LEAD program law enforcement officers have the ability at first contact to send the individual to a program for mental health, drug treatment, housing, etc.

Kris Nyrop, LEAD National Support Director, said that King County, WA was the first to utilize the LEAD approach. 

“We got started in October 2011. We started out on a pilot basis and it (LEAD) has met with enough success locally that we are expanding it nationally,” said Nyrop.

He said that King County folks came about this new approach to policing through what Nyrop termed as “natural collective exhaustion” in 2009 and 2010.

“Everybody agreed that the current status quo (in 2010) was broken,” said Nyrop.

He said King County began to search for new, innovative ways to handle low level drug offenses. Nyrop said that civil rights advocates, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, business leaders, all agreed that the system, as it was designed at that time, was not meeting anyone’s needs. Nyrop said those groups all sat down together and discussed ways to improve the system and the LEAD program was born.

Nyrop said that LEAD has received three evaluation reports and the each report shows the program to be working with a reduction in the rate of recidivism among program participants.

“We saw a dramatic decline in recidivism among those diverted into LEAD versus those who are sent through the traditional criminal justice process,” said Nyrop.

He added that the longer someone is in the LEAD program, the better the results are for that individual.  This reduces the number of individuals that are burdening the court system and district attorneys and law enforcement officers maintain contact with the LEAD case manger to ensure that any criminal prosecutions are coordinated with the individual’s service plan.  The goal is initiate behavioral change in the individual.

According to a release, “After three years of operation in Seattle, a 2015 independent, non-randomized controlled outcome study found that LEAD participants were 58% less likely to be arrested after enrollment in the program, compared to a control group that went through “system as usual” criminal justice processing. With significant reductions in recidivism, LEAD functions as a public safety program that has the potential to decrease the number of those arrested, incarcerated, and are otherwise caught up in the criminal justice system.”

Nyrop said that the costs associated with the LEAD program involve Social Services. He said there are no increased costs for law enforcement and the prosecutors’ office.

“The costs are for the case manager salaries and for the services needed by the people referred to the LEAD program,” said Nyrop.

He said, for example, services would include drug treatment, mental health services and/or medical services. Nyrop said the LEAD program would give law enforcement officers one more tool when dealing with low level drug offenses. He explained that there are certain criteria an individual will need to meet before they can be referred to LEAD.

“By and large, police already have a great deal of discretion and prosecutors have a great deal of discretion as well,” said Nyrop.

For example, Nyrop said if you are caught jaywalking, the officer has the discretion of whether to issue you a citation or to give you a stern warning.

There are six goals to the LEAD program:

**Reorient government’s response to safety, disorder and health-related problems.

**Improve public safety and public health through research based, health-oriented, harm reduction interventions.

**Reduce the number of people entering the criminal justice system for low level offenses related to drug use, mental health, sex work, and extreme poverty.

**Undo racial disparities at the front end of the criminal justice system.

**Sustain funding for alternative interventions by capturing and reinvesting justice system savings.

**Strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the community.

The first LEAD summit in our area will take place in Leland on May 10 and another event will take place in Fayetteville on May 11.  Sign up details can be found by clicking here.

For more information on LEAD and how it is working in King County, WA, click here.

Joshua Walters

Ted Walters

White Lake police were called to the 100 block of Grays Lane around midnight Friday April 15.

According to Detective Mike Salmon, White Lake Police arrived and found Joshua Alan Walters, 25, of White Lake with a gunshot to his lower left leg. Joshua Alan Walters said his father, Ted Alan Walters, entered the home in which he was living accusing him of stealing from him, and shot him in the leg.

Ted Alan Walters, 49, of Elizabethtown, turned himself in to authorities around 4 a.m. Saturday morning.

Salmon said that Ted Walters told officers his son has a major drug problem; that he had stolen several thousand dollars of his property in the past three months; and that his son had stolen his grandmothers’ food out of her freezer on Friday and that pushed him over the edge.

Ted Walters said “I did not want to kill my son; I just want him to have a reminder each time he takes a step, while he is stealing someone else’s belongings.”

Ted Alan Walters is being held under a $50,000 in the Bladen County Jail charged with the following crimes: first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Salmon said, “The White Lake Police want our citizens to know with the increase in our population and the abuse of alcohol and drugs by some, we will continue to provide the utmost service to our citizens that our resources allow.”

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By: Erin Smith

A head-on collision on Dickson Road in East Arcadia closed the road for a brief period on Monday afternoon.

According to North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Russ, Shane Curtis Lacewell of Riegelwood ran off of Dickson road to the right, overcorrected and crossed the centerline. When Lacewell’s vehicle crossed the centerline it struck a Chevrolet driven by Walter Graham of Rieglwood head on and came to rest in the ditch. A passenger in the Chevrolet Isreal Pollard was not injured.

Trooper Russ said Lacewell was charged with driving left of center and reckless driving.

Dickson Road was closed briefly while crews worked to remove the wrecked vehicles from the roadway.

The East Arcadia Fire Department, Bladen County EMS and Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

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By: Charlotte Smith

The new jail in Bladen County has been the topic of many discussions with local residents. Monday afternoon, local officials held a Ground Breaking Ceremony at the new jail site on Smith Circle in Elizabethtown.

According to Ben Brisson, Field Superintendent with Bordeaux Construction, pouring of the footer will begin on the construction project next week.

Long time resident and former Bladen County Schools Liaison Joe Kelly received a golden shovel from the ceremony. He said, “We really need it and have been needing it.”

Sheriff Jim McVicker said, “The important thing to understand is the previous Sherriff’s like Storms, Bunn and Benson made my work easy with the jail project. I can’t wait to get in it.”

Blair Bordeaux, president of the construction company, said the jail will have 105 cells and will contain 220 beds.

Bladen County Commissioner Jimmie Smith said, “It’s going to be beautiful. They have so many inmates now they are sleeping on the floor. The taxpayers, hopefully, understand this is completely necessary.”

Brisson explained there is room for expansion at the north side of the construction site, but hopefully will not be needed for a long time.

Hubert Kinlaw, Bladen County Corner also received a golden shovel. He said, “We really need the jail. It would be nice if we could build a rehabilitation center as well.”

Brisson estimated the project to be completed in about 16 months. The jail will be made by laying brick blocks, however, the jail cells are going to be made of prefab steel, according to Brisson.

The admitted lookout in the Raleigh murder of former Bladen County resident Melissa Huggins-Jones was sentenced to 4 and one-half to 6 and one-half years in prison on Monday.

Sarah Redden, who admitted to being a lookout on the night Huggins-Jones was killed, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact of first-degree murder. She also pled guilty to two counts of breaking and entering of an automobile and received 24 months of supervised probation for those crimes, according to court records.

Redden testified in court at the trial of Travion Smith in February about the events that lead up to Huggins-Jones murder. According to her testimony, Smith and Ronald Anthony were walking around Raleigh and looking for cars that were unlocked. Redden said they would take whatever they could find in the cars while she acted as lookout.

She testified that when they arrived at the apartments where Huggins-Jones lived, Anthony and Smith climbed onto the balcony of the apartment and went inside. Redden testified that she did not know what happened inside the apartment as she was acting as lookout.

Smith was convicted of first-degree murder in February and received a life sentence without parole and Anthony pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2015.

One of two men charged with breaking into an Elizabethtown home in November was sentenced Monday in Bladen County Superior Court and ordered to testify against his accomplice.

Jimmy Michael Cummings, 34, of Murfreesboro, plead guility to breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering under an agreement with the state. Judge Ola M. Lewis sentenced Cummings to a minimum of 15 months and a maximum of 27 months in state custody, pay restitution of $200 for damages to the home, have no contact with co-defendant Timothy O’Neil Locklear Jr. and testify against Locklear, whose case is pending.

Lewis also ordered that if Cummings was charged with a felony in Bladen County in the future that his bond would be $1 million for each charge.

Cummings and Locklear, who is from Lumberton, were charged with breaking into a home on the 2000 block of West Broad Street about 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 6.

According to court statements and police reports, a neighbor noticed a suspicious vehicle pull into the yard of the house Nov. 6 and watched Cummings and Locklear break in and begin loading items into a burgundy Honda Odyssey minivan. The neighbor called law enforcement.

As officers arrived on scene, the men got into the Odyssey and sped away. The chase, which involved Elizabethtown officers and Bladen County deputies, went only a few blocks before the driver pulled over.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Sanford told the court that items valued at more than $6,300 were recovered from the van and returned to the owner. Among the items recovered were a television, video game system and games, laptop computer and an E-reader.

A man charged with breaking the jaw of another inmate in Bladen County jail in September was ordered Monday to spend the final 33 days of his sentence in the N.C. Department of Corrections and to take part in anger management classes.

William Mott Hedgepeth, 34, plead guilty in Bladen County Superior Court to misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury under an agreement with the state. Judge Ola M. Lewis sentenced Hedgepeth to a 150 day active sentence with credit for the 117 days already served. Hedgepeth will be transferred to a state prison for the remainder of his sentence since the assault occurred in Bladen County jail. Lewis also ordered that if Hedgepeth was charged with any other felonies in the future in Bladen County that his bond would be $500,000 secured on each charge with one-half of the bond to be paid in cash.

A fight broke out between Hedgepeth and another inmate on Sept. 19, 2015, as Hedgepeth was placed in the cell following his arrest on a charge of assault on a female, according to court statements and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. Hedgepeth twice punched the other inmate in the face, breaking the inmate’s jaw, Assistant District Attorney Glenn Emery told the court.

Rob Davis, Hedgepeth’s lawyer, agreed with the facts of the case, but added that Hedgepeth “was not the aggressor, but he did finish it.”

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces that Mittesh Das of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted for intentionally causing damage to a U.S. Army computer program by transmitting malicious information, code, and command on a protected computer.  Das made his initial appearance in federal court today in the Northern District of Georgia. 

The Grand Jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina indicted Das on April 5, 2016. 

The charges are punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

“As charged, Mr. Das allegedly exploited his position as a cleared defense contractor to sabotage the U.S. Army Reserve’s personnel system and disrupt pay to our nation’s Soldiers,” said Director Daniel Andrews of the Computer Crime Investigative Unit, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. “Cybercrime and insider threats present significant challenges to national security and military operations, and we will continue to root out those responsible and help bring violators to justice.”

The case is being investigated by U.S. Army CID. CID was assisted during the arrest by the Johns Creek, Georgia, Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jason Kellhofer is representing the government in this case.