Governor’s Crime Commission will conduct their quarterly meeting on Thursday, March 8, in Raleigh. The meeting will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Governor’s Crime Commission, First Floor Conference Room, 1201 Front Street, Raleigh.

The agenda is as follows:

9:00 a.m.
Call to Order
GCC Chairman Robert Evans

9:20 a.m.
Executive Director’s Report
GCC Executive Director Caroline C. Valand

9:45 a.m.
GCC Voting Rules and Guidelines
DPS Legal Carrie Randa

10:00 a.m.
Subcommittee Break-Out Sessions

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
2018 Grant Applications – Recommendations
Committee Chairs

3:00 p.m.
Adjourn

The Governor’s Crime Commission members make recommendations to the governor and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety on federal grants for the state’s criminal justice system, crime victims’ services and juvenile justice. Federal block grants are awarded each year to government, education and social service agencies to start new and innovative programs and to continue efforts to reduce crime.

WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces the arrests of three defendants and their transfers into federal custody pursuant to a 15-count federal indictment for drug related charges.

An indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on February 28, 2018, against DEANDRE SWEET, 27, of Wilmington, KYERIC SWEET, 24, of Wilmington, and DIQUELLE SWEET, 21, of Wilmington.  The indictment charges the three defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, in the Eastern District of North Carolina beginning on or about April 2015 and continuing up to at least October, 2017. DIQUELLE SWEET is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm.

DIQUELLE SWEET was arrested October 11, 2017 by the Wilmington Police Department. KYERIC SWEET was arrested on October 12, 2017 by the FBI and Wilmington Police Department.  DEANDRE SWEET was arrested by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office on September 19, 2016.  DEANDRE SWEET and DIQUELLE SWEET are currently being held in the New Hanover County Detention Center and KYERIC SWEET is in the Columbus County Detention Center.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

“Operation Southern Impact II”

A total of 76 people were arrested, and 13 children were rescued or identified as victims during a mutually coordinated operation among eight southeastern states. The joint, proactive event, Operation Southern Impact II, was coordinated by nine Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in those eight states and focused on persons who possess and distribute child pornography and those who are sexually exploiting children in other ways using technology and the internet. The planning for Operation Southern Impact II began four months ago and culminated in two days of investigative actions to include search warrant executions, undercover operations, and arrests in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. A total of 222 law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies participated in the operation.

The arrestees, ranged in age from 17 to 73. Some of their occupations included postal worker, non-profit employee, small business owner, store clerk, mechanic, daycare administrator, pastor, construction worker and magician.  During the operation, 136 search warrants were executed and 100 knock and talks were conducted in those eight states. During those search warrants and knock and talks, 736 digital devices were previewed and 1,255 digital devices seized. Of those devices seized 235 were mobile phones.  These investigative actions resulted from both reactive cases such as cybertips received by each ICAC Task Force from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and proactive cases such as peer-to-peer investigations and proactive, on-line undercover investigations.

During the course of the operation, some of the investigations extended to other states including Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.  Leads were sent to these additional states and their respective ICAC Task Forces followed up and assisted or developed their own investigations. The continued collaboration among the national network of ICAC Task Forces is one of the most successful partnerships in the history of law enforcement.

The 61 ICAC Task Forces across the country are working cases and conducting investigative actions like these every day. The Commanders of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in these states wanted to reinforce to those who exploit children that the ICAC Task Forces will work together to make an impact in their respective states and the region as a whole.  The cooperation among agencies and among states illustrates their level of commitment to detect, arrest, and prosecute child predators. Cooperation is always important in law enforcement, but it is never more important than when we set out to protect children. Operation Southern Impact II has given us an opportunity to share our experience, information, and resources across units, agencies, and state lines, to make sure that there is no safe place to hide for criminals who would victimize the most vulnerable among us.

The National ICAC Task Force Program consists of more than 4,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, other related criminal justice agencies and prosecutor’s offices.  The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC Program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims. By helping state and local law enforcement agencies develop effective and sustainable responses to online child victimization and child pornography, the ICAC program delivers national resources at the local level.

N.C. State Bureau of Investigation’s Special Agent in Charge Alan K. Flora of the SBI Computer Crimes Unit serves as the commander of the NC ICAC Task Force.  SAC Flora stated that North Carolina’s contribution to the overall operation included 27 search warrants, 56 knock and talks, 190 digital devices seized along with 178 DVD’s/CD’s.  Eight North Carolina men were arrested ranging in age from 32 to 73, and eight children were rescued/removed from abusive situations.

Case examples from North Carolina:  

SBI agents arrested Juan Alberto Juarez Saravia, 35, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador on charges of child sex exploitation.  Saravia, who worked as a traveling pastor in the Hispanic community in the Durham area, admitted to using a fictitious identity Facebook account to entice a 14-year-old Virginia girl into producing sexually explicit videos of herself which she then sent to Saravia. He is currently in the Durham County jail, charged with First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Indecent Liberties with a Child. Saravia is being held on a $750,000 bond. This investigation is ongoing due to evidence indicating there may be more minor victims. SBI’s investigation is on-going because Saravia may have victims who are also undocumented immigrants and thus less likely to report the crimes committed against them. The SBI is working with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to determine the precise immigration status of Saravia and whether or not he had previously been deported.

North Carolina’s SBI agents and Currituck County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Richard Wayne Bell, 73, of Moyock, for child pornography offenses. Bell was a church deacon and served as an administrator in a church daycare program.

Macon County Sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant and seized property from a 36-year-old man accused of hands-on sexual offenses against as many as five children. The crimes allegedly took place in North Carolina and multiple other states due to the man’s travel as a construction worker.  Investigation is ongoing.

Cherokee County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 37-year-old registered sex offender who had failed to report an address change when he moved to a residence 290 feet from a local high school. Digital evidence searched pursuant to the man’s arrest indicated that he was involved in sale of illegal drugs.  Additional information developed indicated that the man was using minor females to traffic drugs.  Investigation is ongoing.

Guilford County Sheriff’s detectives examined digital devices seized from a registered sex offender who was working as a magician.  Evidence of child pornography was located.  The investigation is ongoing.

A 17-year-old Canadian girl recently received nude photos of herself from an anonymous Snapchat user, who demanded more nude photographs. The girl recognized the photos as some that she had taken and sent to a boyfriend at age fourteen.  She was under the impression at the time that the photos had been deleted by the boyfriend. The girl reported the sextortion attempt to Ontario law enforcement who tracked the cyber stalker to Rowan County, North Carolina. SBI agents, HSI agents and Rowan County deputies located a 21-year-old male who admitted to his attempts to extort the girl to produce more photos.  Charges are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Acting on a cybertip about a child in danger, police officers in Monroe executed a search warrant at a residence where they found a seven-year-old girl in an abusive situation.  The girl was removed from the home by the Department of Social Services.  The investigation is ongoing and the child is now safe.

The following NC ICAC Task Force agencies took part in the operation:

N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, sheriff’s offices in Alamance, Alexander, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Cherokee, Cumberland, Currituck, Duplin, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Harnett, Henderson, Johnston, Sampson, Macon, Moore, Orange, Rockingham, Rowan, Transylvania, Wake and Watauga; police departments in Asheville, Boone, Cary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Concord, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Greensboro, Hendersonville, Kernersville,, Monroe, Winston Salem and Winterville; Homeland Security Investigations in Charlotte, Hendersonville, Winston Salem and Wilmington; the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District and Middle District, U.S. Marshals, Wake County District Attorney’s Office,
Additional assisting agencies who are not members of the NC ICAC Task Force were NCIS Norfolk,  Virginia, Fairfax County (VA) PD, Durham PD, Wilson County SO, Wilson PD, and the Ontario (Canada) Provincial Police.

SAC Flora expressed his gratitude to all agencies and officers who took part in operation.  “Much of what we do happens behind the scenes due to the sensitive issues of crimes against children and the need to respect the privacy of the victims.  Operation Southern Impact II highlights the types of investigations ICAC Task Force officers deal with on a daily basis.  It is important to understand that people who prey on children walk among us everywhere.  They are in our schools, our churches, and hidden in plain sight in all of our neighborhoods.  Many of them believe that they are operating anonymously on the internet, but I assure you they can be caught when adequate resources are committed to that cause.  The ICAC Task Force is relentless in its determination to expose and remove those who prey on our most vulnerable and precious citizens.  We are fighting a battle that never ends, but we never quit.”

RALEIGH – The Department of Public Safety has announced the first meeting of the Prison Reform Advisory Board will be Tuesday, March 20. Secretary Erik A. Hooks has appointed retired Army Maj. Gen. Elizabeth (Beth) Austin as chairperson for the board.

“Major General Austin has a proven track record of leadership and advisory abilities based on many years of service with the National Guard,” Secretary Hooks stated. “In her role as assistant adjutant general, she advised the Adjutant General on plans and policies, as well as recruiting, retention, training, budget issues and personnel readiness.”

A Wake County native, Austin retired from the National Guard in 2017. She received her bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University and holds a Master of Science in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. She was the NCNG’s first female general.

DPS established the eight-member Prison Reform Advisory Board predominantly consisting of experts in the field of corrections. The board members will provide ongoing expert advice on best practices for maintaining prison safety. The Board will look at various topics including operations, training, staffing, technology, facility design, and inmate work and program assignments.

The other Board members are:

Art Beeler, Retired Federal Bureau of Prisons;
Stanley Drewery, Retired Office of Staff Development and Training; President SEANC;
James French, Retired NCDPS; Former Deputy Secretary Adult Correction and former Department of Correction;
Stephanie Hollembaek, Retired Federal Bureau of Prisons;
Mike Killmer, Retired Federal Bureau of Prisons;
Dorothy Holmes Ledford, Retired former N.C. Department of Correction; and
Gary Mohr, Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The Board will work closely with Tracy Little, special assistant in the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice for prison reform. Little, a former deputy secretary for DPS in 2012 and deputy secretary for the former Department of Correction from 2001-2012, reports directly to Interim Chief Deputy Secretary Reuben Young, and assists with implementing reform measures to address the challenges facing the prison system.

For information regarding prison reform efforts, including updated action items and reports, please go to the Prison Reform webpage.

The Board meeting will take place at the Governor’s Crime Commission facility in Room 100, 1201 Front St., in Raleigh from 9 a.m. to noon.

By Erin Smith

A probation search has landed an Elizabethtown man in jail an drugs and firearms charges. 

Terrell Monquiel Shipman, 39, of Elizabethtown was arrested by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Bladen County following the search. The search was a joint effort of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Probation and Parole. Sheriff’s Officials said the location was well known and was referred to as “The Tree.” 

Shipman is charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, simple possession of schedule VI controlled substance, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed under a $500,000 bond. 

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced WILLIAM MARTIN LAWSON, 42, of Lumberton to 120 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.

On August 22, 2017, LAWSON was named in an Indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. On November 13, 2017, LAWSON, pled guilty to that charge.

On May 16, 2017, deputies from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) responded to a report of a stolen firearm. When the deputies arrived at the residence, LAWSON’s nephew reported he was asleep in his bedroom when his uncle, woke him to ask for money. The nephew felt that LAWSON was under the influence of some type of drug and refused to give the defendant money. He noticed his

.40 caliber handgun located on the bedside nightstand prior to falling back to sleep. The nephew was next awaken by the sound of
a vehicle engine and noticed the handgun was no longer on the nightstand. He immediately contacted law enforcement to report the firearm stolen by LAWSON. RCSO deputies were able to locate LAWSON’s vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The defendant was removed from the vehicle and the firearm was recovered from the driver side floorboard. LAWSON has previously been convicted for numerous breaking and entering’s, including stealing a total of 9 firearms during those offenses.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office assisted the North Carolina Probation and Parole at the residence of a probationer on Monday night resulting in the seizure of drugs and weapons according to Sheriff James A. McVicker.

“Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Agents, K-9 Unit and Uniform Patrol assisted North Carolina Probation and Parole officers with a search at 2133 Twisted Hickory Road, Elizabethtown,” said McVicker. This location was known to those dealing and buying drugs as “The Tree”.

Arrested was Terrell Monquiel Shipman, aka “Thuggy”, 39, of the same address. Several weapons were seized as well as marijuana. Shipman was charged with five counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of possession of a stolen firearm, one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver marijuana, one count of possession of marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Shipman’s bond was set at $505,000.00 secured and he is currently being held in the Bladen County Detention Center. The weapon recovered was reported stolen in Cumberland County in 2010.

“Sadly, weapons and drugs seem to go hand in hand,” said McVicker. “It is not unusual for us to find stolen weapons in the possession of drug dealers who will take them in trade for the narcotics they are selling. Once a weapon is entered into the system as stolen it is never purged, meaning it will stay there until located. We have to have a make, model and serial number to enter a weapon. This is why it is so important for gun owners to keep a record of their weapons. This gun was on the street for almost 8 years and now it can be returned to its rightful owner when the case is disposed of in court.”

McVicker said the cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Probation and Parole is important for both agencies. He said this collaborative effort has led to the seizure of both drugs and weapons and taken criminals off the street who fail to mend their ways after being given a second chance by the courts.

Lexington, N.C. – The North Carolina 911 Board today honored a team of 911 dispatchers who helped law enforcement officers in Davidson County arrest three men accused of robbing a jewelry store in Thomasville and then shooting a driver who was following them.

Jason Beck, Holly Dunn, Loretta Hayes, Maurice Hodges, Lauren Hurd, Courtney Owens, Nicole Rebello, Jamison Sears, and Drake Sluder of the Davidson County 911 Emergency Communication center handled all of the communication during the incident on January 9.

“All of our 911 communicators deal with stressful, chaotic situations, but in this case our communicators were also relaying real-time information that helped lead to the arrest of these suspects,” said Secretary Eric Boyette of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, who is chair of the 911 Board. “They helped keep this situation from possibly getting worse and we want to make sure we recognize their exceptional work.”

Thomasville officers were dispatched to Avis Jewelry about 12:45 p.m., January 9, in response to a report of an armed robbery. Kerry Chambers had called 911 to say he saw two suspects flee from the store on a moped and that he was following them in his truck.

The moped passenger then pointed a gun at Chambers. The truck rammed the moped, throwing both men to the ground. One man ran while the other retrieved the gun and shot Chambers. Chambers is recovering from the wound.

One of the suspects later led officers on a car chase that reached speeds of nearly 100 mph. Up to 30 law enforcement vehicles were involved in the pursuit. The chase ended in Lexington when the suspect’s car crashed into a Davidson County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

A second suspect was arrested at an abandoned house, and a third suspect was found in High Point. All were charged with attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and kidnapping.

“This case involved rapidly changing situations in the field, multiple jurisdictions, and ongoing danger to the community,’’ said Richard Taylor, executive director of the 911 Board. “As always, good communication is key to success, and this team of 911 communicators did an outstanding job.”

The N.C. 911 Board is responsible for both wireline and wireless 911 communications in the state, as well as related policies and procedures, and it administers the state’s 911 Fund. The fund is used to support equipment purchases for all 911 centers in the state. The board is housed with the N.C. Department of Information Technology.

For more information about the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, visit our website or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Flickr.

Chadbourn, NC – On March 27, 2018, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to WR Cribb Drive in Chadbourn in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked in someone’s yard. When deputies arrived, they located a male inside of the reported vehicle. The male provided deputies with a fictitious name. Columbus Central ran the male’s name. Deputies were advised that the male suspect had outstanding warrants. When the male discovered that he was being arrested for the outstanding warrants, he attempted to flee from the arresting deputy. He also struck a deputy during the incident. On-scene deputies located narcotics in the suspect vehicle. Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice-Narcotics Unit was contacted for further investigation.

Vice-Narcotics Detectives arrived on scene and thoroughly searched the suspect vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they located a large amount of marijuana, cocaine, unknown tablets, a handgun, a .22 caliber rifle, a 20 gauge sawed off shotgun, live ammunition, digital scales, a grinder, and a large amount of packaging materials. Detectives also located evidence linked to a multi-state investigation.

Vice-Narcotics Detectives learned the defendant’s actual name, while conducting their investigation. The defendant had numerous active warrants in Stafford County, Virgina for Felony Larceny, Felony Embezzlement, Fictitious Information to an Officer, and Obtaining Property by False Pretense.

Shonte Jarrel Hutchinson

On March 28, 2018, at the conclusion of the investigation, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Detectives arrested the above defendant. The defendant was then processed at the Columbus County Law Enforcement Center where he was incarcerated.

Defendant 1:

Arrested:
Shonte Jarrel Hutchinson
173 Pine Circle Drive, Tabor City, NC 28463
B-M
D.O.B.: 06-27-1976

Bond: 
$400,000.00 Secured Bond

Charges: 
1 felony count of Possession of Firearm by a Felon
1 felony count of Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction
1 felony count of Possession with the Intent to Sell and/or Deliver Marijuana
1 felony count of Possession with the Intent to Sell and/or Deliver Cocaine
2 misdemeanor counts of Resisting a Public Officer
1 misdemeanor count of Fictitious Information to an Officer
1 misdemeanor count of Assaulting a Government Official
Fugitive Warrant for Stafford County, Virginia

Antonio Graham, left, and David Bowen

Complaints from people in the East Arcadia and Clarkton areas led to the arrest on variety of charges of 11 people over the past week following a multi-agency operation, says Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker on Saturday.

“When we receive complaints from the community we try to respond,” McVicker said. “These arrests were the direct result of complaints from citizens who want their streets safe. This type of aggressive street level enforcement requires a lot of manpower and that is why we seek help from multiple agencies when we begin this type of operation.”

Other agencies involved in the operation along with the Bladen Sheriff’s Office were the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, Pender County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Safe Streets Taskforce, Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, and the NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The operation took place during the week of March 26.

Those arrested were:

** Antonio Levon Graham, 40, of East Arcadia Road in Riegelwood, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of keeping and selling controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, fictitious registration and no insurance. He is being held in the Bladen County Detention Center under a $52,500 bond.

** David Dean Bowen, 59, of Carter Road in Riegelwood. He also is known as “Sambo.” He was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held under a $25,000 bond. “Sambo’s” is known as an illegal open air alcohol and narcotics distribution outlet located on Carter Road in East Arcadia, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

** Ricky Butler II, of Whiteville, was arrested on three outstanding warrants for assault with a deadly weapon and is being held under a $2,500 bond.

** Deandre Robbins, of Riegelwood, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

** Susan Montgomery, of Clarkton, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

** Stephanie Johnson, of Clarkton, was charged with possession of marijuana.

** John Jarmon, of Clarkton, was charged with possession of marijuana.

** Jackie Dixon, of Clarkton, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

** Sheldon Morgan, of Leland, was charged with driving while license revoked.

** Reuben Harrelson Jr., of White Oak, was charged with driving while license revoked.

** Ronald Goins, of Whiteville, was charged with fictitious registration and no liability insurance.

McVicker said drug interdiction operations would continue in areas identified by people by increasing observation by uniform and undercover officers.

By Erin Smith

A man from Guatemala was recently arrested and charged with illegal re-entry of a deported alien in federal court on Wednesday.

Jesus Cervantez-Ruiz, 48, of Guatemala, was found in Bladen County by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after having been deported, according to US Attorney’s Office release. He was previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and illegal re-entry subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction. He could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 and a period of supervised probation, if convicted.

By Erin Smith

Two men were recently arrested and indicted on charges of illegal re-entry of a deported alien in Federal Court in Raleigh on Wednesday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Homeland Security investigators arrested Daniel Luis Perez-Flores, 34, of Mexico, in Sampson County and Orlando Echeverria-Hernandez, 40, of El Salvador, and charged them with illegal re-entry of a deported alien.

According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office release, Perez-Flores has been deported five times in the past and Echeverria-Hernandez has been arrested previously and deported.

Both men could be facing maximum penalties of two years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine each, and supervised probation, if convicted.

Contributed

Sheriff James A. McVicker said today an Elizabethtown man was taken into custody after a brief altercation with Narcotic Agents on Monday.

“Agents went to a residence in Elizabethtown with warrants for arrest on an individual when they confronted another man, Randolph Eugene Miller, 39, of 603 Blanche Street in Elizabethtown,” said McVicker. “When agents approached Miller they could smell marijuana on him and when asked what he had in his pockets Miller began to run.”

McVicker said the agents caught Miller after a short chase and he began fighting them. He was taken into custody and charged with several charges including:

Trafficking Cocaine by Possession, Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Cocaine, Manufacture Cocaine, Maintaining a Dwelling for the Purpose of Keeping/Selling Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Three counts of Possession of Counterfeit Controlled Substances, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Assault with Deadly Weapon on a Government Employee, Resist/Delay/Obstruct an Officer in Performance of his Duties, and Communicating Threats

Miller was placed in the Bladen County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.

Cerro Gordo, NC – The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice-Narcotics Unit completed an investigation into the distribution of opiates in the communities of Cerro Gordo and Chadbourn in Columbus County. The defendant resides in Cerro Gordo but has ties with narcotics dealers in Chadbourn.  This investigation originated from numerous citizen complaints.

During the investigation, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice-Narcotics Detectives utilized an undercover operative to purchase four (4) grams of opiates from the defendant.

On April 04, 2018, at the conclusion of the investigation, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Detectives arrested one individual for the above offense.  The suspect was processed at the Columbus County Law Enforcement Center with a $225,000.00 secured bond.

Defendant 1:

Arrested:
James Cody Stewart
1188 Cherry Grove Road, Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
W-M
D.O.B.:  04-19-1988

Charges:
4 felony counts of Trafficking Opium or Heroin
1 felony count of Maintaining a Vehicle for Use, Storage, or Sale of a Controlled Substance

Smith, left, and Graeser

Two Bladen County men were arrested last week on several drug charges following a monthlong undercover operation, Sheriff James McVicker said Tuesday.

“Our Narcotics unit just completed an operation where controlled buys of narcotics from two different locations in the county has removed two drug dealers from the streets,” McVicker said.

Houston Junius Smith, 26, of McLeod Street in Elizabethtown, was charged with selling and delivering cocaine, possession with intent tto manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine, manufacture cocaine, possession cocaine, and maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling cocaine. Smith was held under a $100,000 secured bond.

William Dean Graeser, 53, of Sunset Park Road in Bladenboro was charged with selling and delivering marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana, manufacture marijuana, and maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling marijuana. Graeser was held under a $20,000 secured bond.

“Both of these arrests were the direct result of citizen complaints,” McVicker said. “When we get information about the sale of illegal narcotics in our communities we do our best to act on them and shut the dealers down. We welcome help from the communities and our citizens.”

By Erin Smith

A Brunswick County couple who were convicted of severely abusing their child in 1997 are now facing first degree murder charges stemming from that incident. 

David Tripp Jr. and Robyn Noffsinger are both charged with first degree murder in the death of their son, David Reinhardt which was subsequently changed to David Stuart. 

According to the court record, On April 12, 1997, an EMT was called to the residence and Tripp and Noffsinger met them with 14 or 15 month old David, who could not breath. The court record reflects the child was transported to the Brunswick County hospital where doctors in the Emergency Room documented that his eyes would not dilate, there was bruising o the child’s face, the child was unable to breathe and there burns to his buttocks and genital areas. 

The court record reflects the child was transported to Duke University Medical Center and he was reported to also have a broken wrist, fractures of both legs and arms and blood in the fluid around his eyes. David Stewart’s brain was reported to have been severely damaged.

Prosecutors told the court on Tuesday that the Medical Examiner determined that David Stuart died as a result of injuries he suffered. 

Prosecutors said when David was three years old, he was adopted by a couple in Durham where he resided until his death in March 2018. 

“It took 21 years for David to die of his injuries,” said District Attorney Jon David.

Assistant District Attorney Ward said, “David never spoke, he was blind and he was deaf as a result of his injuries.”

Ward told the court that Tripp did enter a guilty plea in the child abuse case on July 21, 1998. He pled guilty to four counts of child abuse. 

Ward told the court Noffsinger was tried and convicted on charges of child abuse on July 29, 1998. She served an 11 year sentence.

Bond for  Noffsinger and Tripp was set at $1 million each. 

Noffsinger and Tripp also received court appointed attorneys and each have a Rule 24 hearing set for June 6 at 9:30 a.m. 

District Attorney Jon David said the case is a “remarkable case” because of the length time from the injuries being inflicted and the death of David Stuart. He also noted the trial in 1998 was very sensational.

Conner, left, and Dicicco

Two Bladen County men have been arrested after Sheriff’s Office investigators recovered more than $4,000 worth of stolen property that had been taken in break-ins on Center Road, said Sheriff James McVicker.

Louis Dicicco III, 56 of Village Street in Bladenboro, and Ashley Wade Conner, 38, of 8th Street in Elizabethtown have each been charged with two counts of felonious breaking and entering, two counts of felonious larceny and two
counts of felonious possession of stolen goods. Each received $30,000 secured bonds.

“Investigators were able to recover stolen property and break up a breaking and entering team operating in the Bladenboro area,” McVicker said. “Our investigators worked very hard to recover this property and make these arrests.”

Investigators have recovered two generators, multiple fishing poles and gear, motorcycle helmets, a Honda Motorcycle, weed eater, boat motor, welding machine and leads.

“My officers are still working this case and hope to recover additional property,” McVicker said.

By Erin Smith

Closing arguments are slated to begin on Friday in Bladen County Superior Court in the murder trial of Shanika Mitchell who is the third person to be tried for the shooting death of Darrell Council in 2015.

Mitchell told the court on Thursday afternoon that she has elected not to take the stand in her own defense. When asked by Superior Court Judge Tanya Wallace if they had any evidence to present to the court, Mitchell’s Attorney Wes Johnson replied, “No.”  Mitchell’s decision comes after the State rested its case just before lunch on Thursday. Judge Wallace then dismissed the jury for the rest of the afternoon.

On Thursday morning, the jury heard testimony from Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Morgan Johnson. He testified regarding the investigation and text messages which were exchanged between Mitchell and another defendant, D’Nayza Downing, who had testified on Wednesday.

Under cross examination by Defense Attorney Wes Johnson, Investigator Johnson testified he interviewed Downing twice and that she told him she did not always believe the things her boyfriend Montise Mitchell, who has already been tried and convicted in the matter, would say.

Investigator Johnson also testified that he interviewed Shanika Mitchell, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting. He testified that Mitchell stated she told Downing she did not want anything to do with the shooting. Investigator Johnson, when asked by Attorney Johnson, testified that Mitchell was polite and cooperative during the investigation.

Attorney Johnson asked Investigator Johnson if he was able to find evidence on Mitchell’s phone where she was texting Montise Mitchell and Chris Baldwin on the night of the shooting. Investigator Johnson testified that he was not able to find evidence of it on any of the devices he had.

Investigator Johnson also testified that it was two days after the murder took place before he was given Shanika Mitchell’s phone to examine.

The court also heard testimony from Eugene Bishop, who is the Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner for the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. He testified that the bullets collected as evidence at the crime scene were fired by two different weapons but did not come from the Ruger 9mm pistol he was presented to test.

Ron Matthews also testified regarding the photographs and evidence collected from the silver Suburban Darrell Council was driving on the night of November 8, 2015. The jurors were shown photographs which showed bullet holes found in the vehicle and shards of glass and bullet fragments which were retrieved from the interior of the vehicle.

On Wednesday, jurors heard testimony from D’Nayza Downing regarding her relationship with Montise Mitchell and Shanika Mitchell as well as what happened on the Night of November 8, 2015.

Downing testified regarding the text messages exchanged between herself and Shanika Mitchell. Assistant District Attorney Quentin McGee showed the jurors an exchange of Facebook messages between Downing and Antwan Council, who is a brother of Darrell Council.

Downing testified that on November 7, she assisted Shanika Mitchell with planning a birthday party for Montise Mitchell at a hotel in Fayetteville. She testified the party took place in a suite at the hotel and that once the guests left, Shanika Mitchell stayed with Chris Baldwin in one room and she (Downing) stayed with Montise Mitchell.

Downing also testified that on Sunday afternoon, Montise drove Downing and Shanika Mitchell to Shanika’s mother’s home. Downing told the court that two men arrived later in the afternoon in white Volkswagen and wanted to purchase marijuana. She said she messaged Antwan Council about possibly getting some marijuana from him. He later replied to her message and arrangements were made to meet.

She described the sequence of events of the evening leading up to the shooting. Downing said the two men took the two women to the Council home and they went inside to wait for the marijuana to be delivered. After the marijuana was delivered the two men took the women back to Shanika’s house.

Downing described that it was decided to return to the Council home and she sent a text to Antwan about “hanging out.” Downing described  for the court the direction of travel of the vehicle Council was driving when he and his brother, Antwan, picked up Downing and Mitchell that evening.

Downing testified the four traveled Twisted Hickory Road to Owen Hill Road where the Council brothers resided. She said they also returned to the home on Center Road by the same route.

She also answered questions regarding text messages being exchanged between herself and Shanika Mitchell. Downing testified that everyone in the car was smoking marijuana and “on their phones.”

She described for the court that both Mitchell and Downing herself were texting with Montise Mitchell using a text app regarding the situation.

She also testified that while at the residence on Owen Hill Road, Isaiah Long, Robert Council Darrell Council and Antwan Council were all present in addition to Shanika Mitchell and Downing herself.

Downing also answered questions regarding her plea arrangement with the state. She is currently seven years after pleading guilty to accessory after the fact to first degree murder.