A former church treasurer pled guilty last week to two misdemeanor counts of larceny and was ordered to make restitution in the amount fo $1,000.

According to court records, Agnes Jeanette McCall pled guilty last week under a condition of discharge with the State.

McCall was sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation, she must pay the court costs, and make restitution in the amount of $1,000, according to court records. Once those conditions are met, McCall will then be moved to unsupervised probation.

McCall and former minister Retonya Judtha Freeman of Raleigh were arrested and charged with embezzling funds from Mt. Pisgah Church. 

According to court documents, the embezzlement took place beginning in 2009 when the church was raising funds to purchase a facility in which to worship. According to court records, the embezzlement took place from 2009 through 2013.

A Charlotte North Carolina man led Bladen Deputies on a high speed chase early Sunday morning.

Gebreal Charles Moss, 23 of 12318 Downy Birch Road, Charlotte was arrested and charged with two counts of injury to personal property, resisting a public officer, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, felony flee to elude arrest, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, manufacture Schedule II controlled substance and driving while impaired.

Sheriff James A. McVicker said deputies along with Elizabethtown Police Department officers had set up a license checking station at the foot of the Cape Fear River Bridge near the entrance to Tory Hole Park at approximately 1:00 a.m. Sunday. McVicker said Sgt. Cley Carroll saw a 2006 Honda Civic approaching the checking station and it did not appear to be slowing down. Carroll heard the vehicle increase speed. Carroll was standing in the road and moved to another lane and the vehicle switched lanes towards Carroll. Carroll had to jump out of the road to avoid being hit.

The vehicle failed to stop for stop lights at the intersection of Broad and Poplar street and went through the intersection at an estimated speed of 80 mph. Deputies began to pursue the vehicle and were able to catch up with it as it turned onto the NC 87 bypass traveling west. McVicker said the vehicle began to cross back and forth across the grass median as it traveled westbound towards Dublin. At some point Moss crossed to the east bound lane and turned around heading back towards Elizabethtown. Deputies were attempting to get in front of Moss in order to deploy stop sticks.

Moss then attempted to turn onto Cromartie road and tried to ram a patrol car operated by Deputy Jason Andrews. Andrews had to swerve into a ditch to avoid being struck. Moss’s vehicle hit a concrete median and became disabled. Moss managed to get out of his vehicle and run into the woods where he was apprehended after a short foot chase.

Moss and Deputy Andrews were transported to Bladen County Hospital where they were treated and released. Deputy Andrews patrol vehicle sustained heavy damage. No other injuries were reported and because of the time of the morning there was no danger to other motorists.

Moss was placed in Bladen County Jail under a $135,000.00 secured bond.

A passenger in the vehicle and the owner, Kayla Atlanta Flack, 21 of 1011 Yellow Bee Road, Indian Trails, was charged with aid and abet driving while impaired. She received a $5,000.00 unsecured bond.

“This was a dangerous situation my deputies found themselves in,” said McVicker. “I am just glad we were able to stop this young man before he hurt someone. We were assisted by Elizabethtown Police and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.”

A Bladenboro man was lying on a set of train tracks near Lumberton when he was struck and killed on Saturday.

According to reports, Nathan Cody Deaver was laying on the tracks near Singletary Church Road when he was struck by a train at about 5 a.m. According to reports, the train’s conductor blew the whistle in attempt to get Deaver’s attention and attempted to stop the train. The conductor was unable to stop the train before striking Deaver.

Deaver resided on Midway Drive in Bladenboro.

By: Erin Smith

On Wednesday afternoon, the Elizabethtown Police Department received a request to assist the NC Probation and Parole at a home located at 412 S. Lower Street in Elizabethtown at 5:33 p.m., according to Lt. D. Cheshire.

Probation and Parole entered the residence and conducted a search, according to Lt. Cheshire. He said marijuana was located in the residence and several Elizabethtown Police Officers responded to Probation and Parole’s request for assistance.

Arlene Renee Rhoda, 52, was the probationer and resided at 412 S. Lower Street, said Lt. Cheshire.

She was charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana.

Lt. Cheshire said Rhoda was also charged by Probation and Parole officers with a felony probation violation.

Also present at the residence was Tracy Christopher Custis, 51, according to Lt. Cheshire. Custis is also charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana.

Elizabethtown Police Sgt.  Willie Thompson investigated.

The vehicle driven by Joseph Evander Russ was traveling an estimated 90 mph before it hit a guardrail, then went through a cement barrier before dropping 31 feet and landing on its roof, killing the Bladenboro man early Saturday morning, according to a report filed by N.C. Highway Patrol Troopr J.A. McVicker Jr.

Russ, who was 28 and lived on Oak Grove Church Road, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Bladen County Coroner Hubert Kinlaw.

According to the trooper’s report, the 2003 Jeep was traveling south on U.S. 701 approaching Turnbull Creek bridge about 1 a.m. Saturday when it ran off the road on the right and struck a guardrail at an estimated 88 mph. The vehicle came back on the road and crashed through the cement bridge rail and dropped 31 feet to the ground, landing on its roof. The vehicle traveled about 233 feet after hitting the guardrail.

Russ was a mechanic at Hester Tire in Bladenboro, according to his obituary posted by Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home & Cremation of Elizabethtown. He is survived by his father, Joe Russ, of Bladenboro, and mother, Cynthia Jones of Alabama, two children, Daniel and Riley, and a brother and sister. Services were held Monday with burial at Oak Grove Church Cemetery in Bladenboro.

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By Erin Smith

One person was killed and another seriously injured Friday morning after their vehicles collided on N.C. 211 Business near Richardson Road outside Bladenboro.

Karen Jordan Hair of Village Street in Bladenboro died while Carlie Weldon Strickland of Cemetery Road in Bladenboro was transported by helicopter to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington for treatment, according to N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper R.L. Walker.

According to Walker, Hair was traveling west on N.C. 211 Business when the CRV she was driving crossed the center line and struck head-on the Ford truck driven by Strickland.

On Friday, Aug. 12, at approximately 9:35 a.m. Sergeant Jeffrey Guyton and Lieutenant Mark McMichael of the Elizabethtown Police Department were contacted by North Carolina Probation and Parole to assist them with a search of a probationer Alan Graham Davis’s, 57, residence located at 909 Joel Street, Elizabethtown.

Probation arrived on the scene and conducted a search of Davis’s residence with the assistance of Sergeant Guyton and Lieutenant McMichael. The results of that search yielded a Llama 9mm handgun along with a box of 9mm ammunition and another box of 12 gauge ammunition.

Finding this to be a violation of Allen Davis’s probation and upon request of Agent Paul Watts of probations Sergeant Guyton seized the above listed handgun and secured it as evidence.

Probations then arrested Davis for probation violation where he was then transported to Bladen County Jail.

By : Erin Smith

A tragic wreck involving a farm tractor and a motor vehicle on Saturday afternoon resulted in a fatality.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Sellers said that a John Deere tractor operated by Roderick Morris Jr., 56, of Bladenboro, was traveling west on Center Road. Deborah Byrd Morris, 56, his wife, was operating a GMC SUV west on Center Road when she collided with a boom sprayer extending from the side of the tractor. Following the collision with the sprayer, Mrs. Morris’ SUV traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a pond and the vehicle was partially submerged, according to Trooper Sellers.

According to an eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous, off-duty Elizabethtown Police Detective D. Cheshire was at his mother’s home, which is located near the crash site, and immediately responded to the scene to assist the victims. According to the eyewitness, Lt. Cheshire entered the water and rescued Mrs. Morris and the couple’s daughter, Kelly Barnes, 30, of Myrtle Beach, SC, who was a passenger in the vehicle. The eyewitness said Lt. Cheshire performed CPR on Mrs. Morris until more help arrived.

A man involved in a gang-related shooting near where just hours earlier hundreds of people had enjoyed the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in downtown Elizabethtown will spend up to seven years in custody under an agreement with the state.

Meredith Jaquan Cromartie, 25, of Elizabethtown, was sentenced Monday in Bladen County Superior Court to between 60 months and 84 months after accepting responsibility for his actions under an Alford plea. The plea included discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon, assault on a female and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon. Five counts of attempted first degree murder were dismissed under the agreement.

The shooting incident took place Jan. 18 about 4 p.m. when officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at the intersection of Gill Street and MLK Drive, according to records. Investigators say the shots were directed toward Jeffery Lewis, who was a gang member from a different gang than Cromartie’s. Lewis was on scene when officers arrived, but would not answer questions, said Assistant District Attorney Quintin McGee in a summary of the case at Monday’s sentencing. The shots struck the front left quarterpanel of a vehicle being driven by Felicia McGill, McGee said. There were three adults and a 2-year-old child in the vehicle, but no one was injured.

Cromartie fled the scene. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on Feb. 10 at a convenience store in Fayetteville.

McGee told the court there had been some animosity between Cromartie, Lewis and McGill in the past.

Cromartie also plead Monday to possession of a firearm by a felon. He had plead guilty in April 2012 to assault inflicting serious bodily injury and had served time in custody.

The assault on a female and assault by pointing a gun charges which Cromartie plead to came from two incidents over a three-day period in August 2015, McGee told the court.

Cromartie was represented by Andrew Wall of Elizabethtown.

A Bladenboro man charged in the shooting death of a Tar Heel woman in February was given a $500,000 secured bond by Judge Douglas B. Sasser on Monday during a hearing in Bladen County Superior Court.

Kelly Dwayne Hamilton, 44, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Crystal Lynn McLamb on Feb. 11. The incident took place in the early morning hours at Hamilton’s mobile home on Ruby Kidds Road, off Singletary Mill Pond Road, near Bladenboro, according to records.

Investigators say that Hamilton called the 911 center at 3:02 a.m. Feb. 11 to report that McLamb had accidentally shot herself when she moved a loaded weapon that was lying on the coffee table as the two were watching a movie.

According to investigators, two shots were fired from the weapon that had been on the table; one went into the table and the other struck McLamb. Assistant District Attorney Quintin McGee said during Monday’s bond hearing that a shell casing was found under Hamilton’s bed.

“This is a sad, sad situation,” Butch Pope, Hamilton’s lawyer, told the court Monday. “These are nice folks. Crystal McLamb was a friend of Mr. Hamilton’s for years and years.”

Pope told the court that Hamilton and McLamb went out during the day on Feb. 10 and did some target shooting, then visited some friends. Later, each went to their home.

Before McLamb returned to Hamilton’s house that night, Hamilton thought he heard a noise outside and went to check because there had been some break-ins recently in the area, Pope said. He took his Taurus pistol with him. Hamilton didn’t find anything outside and went back into the house, placing the loaded gun on top of a coffee table, Pope said.

McLamb came over later that evening to watch a movie, Pope said. As they were talking, Pope said, McLamb picked up the gun from the coffee table, and the gun went off.

“There was no sign of any struggle, no evidence of any disagreement,” Pope said. “Just a terrible, terrible accident.

“(Hamilton) is no threat to the community. He’s certainly not going anywhere. He still gets emotional when he talks about Crystal,” Pope said.

The state maintains, based on the evidence found at the scene, that a second shot was fired.

“The fact that there was a second shell, along with some of the physical evidence discovered, indicates there was a second shot,” McGee said. “It is true that Mr. Hamilton called 911 and indicated an accident had occured. The evidence on the scene doesn’t jibe with the story that Mr. Hamilton gave law enforcement.”

The state asked for a $1 million bond. Pope asked for a $50,000 bond.

On Friday, August 12th, Sergeant Jeromy Martin was dispatched to 203 West Swanzy Elizabethtown, NC in reference to a larceny of a firearm from a motor vehicle. Sergeant Martin received information that the missing handgun was stolen from the center console of the victim’s vehicle while it was parked at the listed address according to the Elizabethtown Police Department.

Sergeant Martin was able to develop a suspect based upon information received. The case was further investigated by Detective Sergeant Willie Thompson of the Elizabethtown Criminal Investigation Division. Detective Thompson was able to establish probable cause which led to the arrest and charging of Detrick Lemond Covington for the larceny of a firearm.

Also during the investigation Detective Thompson determined that the suspect Detrick Lemond Covington is a convicted felon. Based upon these finding Detective Thompson further charged Covington with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Covington was arrested, processed, and placed in Bladen County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond. The case is still under investigation.

A convicted felon who was involved in a vehicle accident near Ammon nearly two years ago will spend up to 12 years in state custody after being found guilty Thursday on two charges by a Bladen County jury and ruled a habitual felon.

Jeffrey Lewis, 27, of Elizabethtown, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and reckless driving in Bladen County Superior Court. He was sentenced to a minimum of 110 months and a maximum of 144 months in prison.

The case began Jan. 6, 2015 when emergency personnel were sent to a vehicle wreck on N.C. 242 North near Ammon. Lewis, who was the driver of the wrecked vehicle, was found along the roadside.

According to testimony, Lewis told emergency personnel that he was a convicted felon and told responders he would pay them if they would remove a firearm from his vehicle before law enforcement officers arrived. A firefighter found a loaded firearm in the vehicle and turned it over to law enforcement.

Charges were filed after investigators learned that Lewis was a convicted felon.

Lewis has prior felony convictions for discharging a weapon into occupied property, possession of stolen goods or property, and possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana.

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that on Friday, August 19, 2016, in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Harry C. Mann, 80, of Manns Harbor, North Carolina, to an 18-month term of imprisonment, ordered him to pay $149,999 in restitution to the United States Defense Logistics Agency, and imposed a $75,000 fine.  On October 28, 2015, Mann pled guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with one count of accepting illegal gratuities.

According to the United States Attorney’s factual proffer at the plea hearing, Mann, had been employed by the Navy at the range southwest of Manteo, since 1968.  The range provides air warfare training support to the Navy and the Marine Corps.  Aviators practice dropping inert bombs and firing live rounds of ammunition at practice targets.  As range manager, Mann’s official duties included constructing and maintaining the targets.  Between January 2005 and May 2011, Mann requisitioned approximately 16 million dollars in excess government property, which included many types of functional heavy equipment, like trucks, excavators, bulldozers, cranes, trailers, and metal connex boxes.  He obtained the property from the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), which was created by the Department of Defense to centralize the disposal of excess property for better accountability and to reutilize military property within the Department of Defense.  If the Department of Defense no longer has use for the property, excess material may be used for emergency management in the United States and humanitarian aid worldwide.  The Department of Defense could also sell excess property to the public.

Mann, however, without proper authorization, sold DRMO acquired property to local metal scrappers.  These men paid Mann a percentage of the proceeds they received for scrapping numerous pieces of heavy equipment and aluminum expedition runway matting.  In total, these men state they paid Mann approximately $175,000 in kickbacks.  Mann, according to the government’s proffer, demanded that these men pay him in cash when they were alone so others could not witness the payments.  One such cash payment of $16,300 was paid to Mann at his residence on May 18, 2011.  Mann told the local scrapper to put the envelope of cash in a flower pot.   

The investigation of this case was jointly conducted by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of Defense Investigative Service, and the Defense Logistics Agency, Office of the Inspector General.  The Navy was first alerted of the criminal activity by inspectors from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles after witnessing the transportation of heavy pieces of equipment in the Edenton area.   Assistant United States Attorney Susan B. Menzer represented the government.

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Moore

By: Erin Smith

A Garland family is searching for their missing son. Jenny Moore said her son, Andrew Moore, 20, has been missing since 7 a.m. Monday. If anyone has seen Andrew, they are asked to contact the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-592-4141.

Ms. Moore said this is out of character for Andrew to not contact his family. Ms. Moore added Andrew did not call in to work on Monday to get his work schedule for Monday night and she said it is also out of character for him to miss work.

He was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt, a black pair of Dickie’s work-type pants, and wheat colored boots. He has a tattoo on his left forearm of the word Moore and a tattoo on his chest of the letters MSB. Andrew did have a gage in one ear lobe which has now grown closed. There is webbing between his second and third toes on each foot.

Ms. Moore said that Andrew has never left home without letting someone know where he is. She said he does not have a vehicle with him and no one saw which direction he took when he left the house.

“He’s really quiet but if you ask him a question, he will answer you,” said Ms. Moore.

Ms. Moore said she has 6-year-old twins who really miss their brother.

Her message for her son: “Just let us know you are okay.”

Kenneth Haselden

The four-vehicle crash that ocurred on US 701 near the ATV Park on Saturday has resulted in two fatalities.

According to NC Highway Patrol Sgt. Daniel Hilburn, Kenneth Gary Haselden, 64, of Huger, SC was driving his 2007 Dodge Pick-up truck southbound on US 701. Haselden was towing a utility trailer behind his truck.

Melissa Coffin Melvin, 50, of Elizabethtown was driving southbound on US 701 and was slowing for traffic when her 2006 Chevrolet SUV was struck in the rear by Haselden.

Sgt. Hilburn said after the impact, Haselden’s vehicle traveled left of the centerline and struck a 2012 Honda Passport head on. The Honda Passport was driven by Liz Esbeidy Manujano, 30, of Bladenboro and she had her three children in the vehicle with her, said Sgt. Hilburn.

Sgt. Hilburn said that after being struck in the rear, Melvin’s vehicle traveled left of center and struck a 2006 Dodge van  that was being driven by Francie Murphy Hunter of Garland.

Sgt. Hilburn said that Liz Manujano died in the crash and Manujano’s 6-year-old daughter, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and died later from her injuries.

Manujano’s 11-year old daughter, who also was not properly restrained, was flown by helicopter to Duke University Medical Center, said Sgt. Hilburn. Manujano’s 1-year-old son was riding in his car seat and was not seriously injured.

All of the other crash victims were transported to Cape Fear Valley-Bladen Healthcare for treatment of their injuries.

Arrested was Kenneth Haselden, 64, who was charged with driving while impaired, failure to reduce speed, and two counts of death by motor vehicle. He posted a $50,000 secured bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 24.

NC Highway Patrol Trooper R. L. Walker investigated.

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that on Monday in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Smith Merinord, 23, of Dunn to 865 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release and Cortese Tramand Davis, 26, of Henderson to 528 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Merinord and Davis were named in a 12-count Superseding Indictment filed on September 9, 2015. On June 7, 2016, Davis  pled guilty to 4-counts and Merinord was found guilty of 6-counts in the Superseding Indictment on June 8, 2016. Both entered the Advance Auto Parts Store on Owen Drive in Fayetteville on November 2, 2013 and Merinord was armed with a small Uzi and Davis was armed with mace. They threatened the employees with the firearm during

the robbery and Merinord raped and sexually assaulted a female employee before fleeing with cash. Prior to departing, Davis sprayed the employees with mace. Later that day, Merinord and  Davis robbed another Advanced Auto on Roberts Avenue in Lumberton. Merinord again threatened store employees with the Uzi and they fled with cash and a .22 caliber revolver from one of the victims.

On November 8, 2013, Davis was arrested and provided an unprotected statement wherein he denied participation in the rape and claimed to not know the name of his accomplice. He acknowledged his participation in the robberies.

On November 16, 2013, Merinord and another accomplice entered the Red Lobster located on McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville and held the manager at gunpoint and stole cash before fleeing. Off duty officers and other law enforcement apprehended Merinord and his accomplice in the CarMax parking lot located near the Red Lobster. Merinord had a small Uzi in his waistband.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Bradsher and Peggah Wilson represented the government.

A group called ToolsForChange.org is circulating a petition asking the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to once more re-open the Lennon Lacy case. The group lists numerous concerns regarding lingering questions about the alleged suicide of the Bladenboro teen.

In August 2014, Lennon Lacy was found hanging from a child’s swing-set in a trailer park in Bladenboro. Local authorities initially ruled the death a suicide.

On Thursday, June 16, 2016, the US Department of Justice announced it had closed its investigation into the hanging death of Lennon Lacy.  The department further ruled the death as a suicide.

The group advertises itself as an organization for change through social justice, meditation, building alliances, and more.

To view the group’s concerns and the petition, click here.

With the July 4^th weekend approaching, Bladen County Sheriff James A. McVicker asks all citizens to join him in making this Fourth of July holiday happy, enjoyable and safe for everyone.

Bladen County citizens should remember that fireworks, as enjoyable as they are to watch, can be dangerous and should only be handled by professionals.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, there are nearly 9,000 emergency room-treated injuries associated with fireworks a year. You can enjoy a safe Fourth of July by following these safety tips:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Keep a supply of water close-by as a precaution.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays.
• Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

Sheriff McVicker also wants citizens to use caution when swimming at a beach, the lakes in the county  or at a pool.  Sheriff McVicker said, “Sadly, most deaths from drowning occur within a few feet of safety.” The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. The Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To find out where lessons are offered, or to enroll in a CPR/AED or first aid course, contact your local Red Cross chapter.

At a swimming pool, take the following precautions:

• If no lifeguard is on duty, do not let children swim unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult who knows lifesaving techniques and first aid.
• Post CPR instructions and directions to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number in the pool area.
• Look around the pool area to be certain lifesaving devices are readily available for emergency use.
• Be sure covers are installed on all drains of a swimming pool or in a wading pool. The suction created by the pool’s circulating pumps can be very dangerous unless it is reduced by covers.
• Take frequent breaks (about once an hour) where everyone gets out of the water, drinks water, reapplies sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and rests.
• If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area.
• To reduce the risk of eye, ear, nose or throat infection from contaminated water, swim only in pools in which water quality is properly maintained. The water should appear crystal clear, be continuously circulated and be maintained at a level that allows free overflow into the gutter or skimmer. There should not be a strong odor of ammonia or chlorine.

At the beach, take the following precautions:

• Swim in a supervised, marked area with a lifeguard present, and swim with others. Never swim alone.
• If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can’t swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.
• Watch out for the “dangerous too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Look for water that is reasonably clear and free of floating materials and odors. Avoid swimming at beaches where there are large populations of ducks, geese or gulls. The waste produced by these birds causes high bacteria levels in the water.
• Look for movement in the water; it helps keep the water clean. Do not swim in stagnant or still water.
• Do not swim at any beach right after a heavy rain. Runoff following a heavy rain may result in a high bacteria level.
• When diving at a beach, exercise extreme caution. Beach water is not as clear as water in a pool, so underwater obstructions may not be visible.
• Avoid having beach water in your mouth or nose.

Sheriff McVicker said, “Following these precautions will help the children and citizens of Bladen County stay safe and healthy this holiday weekend and throughout the summer.”

Are video sweepstakes games predominately games of chance or games of skill and dexterity?

A Bladen County jury may, in part, answer that question when its expected to continue deliberations Tuesday morning in the trial of a 77-year-old Columbus County man who owns a small grocery store along N.C. 211 in the Bladen County community of Council. Its verdict, if reached, could have ramifictions statewide on an industry that has drawn the attention of law enforcement for years.

Richard McRoy Taylor Jr., of Tabor City, is on trial during a special session of Bladen County Superior Court on charges of operating a video gaming machine, gambling, and misdemeanor electronic sweepstakes.

At issue is whether the four Gift Surplus video sweepstakes machines confiscated from a room of K&R Grocery in August 2015 are legal under North Carolina law. State law prohibits, in most cases, games of chance.

Taylor’s defense team contends the games involve skill and dexterity since players have to know how to operate the machine to win the sweepstakes and that players receive credit to make purchases from the Gift Surplus web site equal to the amount of money put into the machine.

The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for about 90 minutes late Friday afternoon after listening to testimony and arguments for three days, but reported they were deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict. Judge Ebern T. Watson ordered jurors to return Tuesday in an effort to reach a unanimous verdict.

The trial is the latest in a series of cases pitting district attorney’s and law enforcement agencies across the state against video sweepstakes machine manufacturers and operators of the once-popular sweepstakes businesses.

Taylor’s case began May 14, 2015, when Bladen County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to K&R Grocery to investigate a break-in, according to testimony. Investigator Matt Hester testified that while searching for evidence, he noticed the four gaming machines in a side room of the store.

On Aug. 11, 2015, David Borresen of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office testified that he entered the store and played one of the machines. He testified that he put $20 in one of the machines, played the Lucky Shamrock 2 game once and won $31. An 11-minute surveillance video was played of Borresen’s undercover operation.

The video showed Borresen entering the grocery and purchasing a drink, then entering the room where the sweepstakes machines were located. Borresen puts $20 into the machine, then chooses to play the Lucky Shamrock 2 game. He presses several incorrect buttons before pressing a button that matches a winning pattern. It’s not clear on the video whether Borresen received a receipt which would have contained a code for $20 credit at the Gift Surplus web site as its designed to do, and, he testified, he couldn’t recall if he received a receipt.

After getting the winning pattern, Borresen calls on the store clerk, who is the defendant’s son and also named Richard, to help him cash out. Borresen received $31.

The four Gift Surplus sweepstakes machines were confiscated Aug. 12, 2015. Taylor was charged with operating a video game machine on Dec. 7, 2015, gambling on June 6 and misdemeanor electronic sweepstakes on Aug. 1.

Taylor is represented by former judge Bill Gore of Columbus County, Michael Grace of Winston-Salem and George Hyler of Asheville. The state is represented by District Attorney Jon David and assistant District Attorney Quintin McGee.

The defense called three expert witnesses to testify about Gift Surplus’ business model, the machines’ compliance with regulations, and the skill and dexterity involved in playing the games.

Dr. Robert Robicheaux is a professor in the Marketing, Industrial Distribution and Economics Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He testified about the growth of “gamification,” which is defined as an application of typical elements of game playing to other areas of activity, typically as an online marketing technique to encourage engagement with a product or service.

“Gift Surplus’ business model is fascinating,” Robicheaux testified. “They target e-commerce sales and offer products online. Part of that is to attract customers to kiosks to play games and take people to their web site.”

Gift Surplus has no inventory, Robicheaux said. The company acts as a shopping site for several vendors. The vendors send the products to the customers.

Nick Farley of Nick Farley & Assoc. of Ohio, operates a regulatory compliance test laboratory and electronic gaming device consulting service. He testified that among the requirements to be a sweepstakes game is to offer a “no purchase necessary” option and the machines in question offered that option.

Dr. Neil Mulligan, who is a professor and director of Cognitive Psychology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, testified about his research involving chance and skill and dexterity.

“Skill,” Mulligan testified, “is the ability to learn through instruction and practice.”

In the Gift Surplus machine in court, Mulligan talked about the different patterns needed to win the sweepstakes and how a novice playing the game would improve with practice.

In closing arguments Friday afternoon, Grace talked about the four law enforcement witnesses the state called and “they offered us nothing,” he said. “This is your opportunity to tell the DA that we expect a better investigation.”

David, in his closing argument, told jurors that “you don’t have to be a weatherman to know if it’s raining. This is a gambling machine. … In Bladen County, gambling is illegal. It’s not Cherokee. It’s not Las Vegas. Internet sweepstakes is gambling in disguise.

“People have no idea they are getting credits to buy gifts, or are confused or the codes don’t work.”

In the O.J. Simpson trial, David said, “you heard that if the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit. In this case, if you can’t redeem, it must be a scheme.”

The owner of a small grocery store in Council was found not guilty Tuesday of gambling and had two other video sweepstakes-related charges declared a mistrial.

Richard McRoy Taylor Jr., 77, who lives in Columbus County, operates K&R Grocery located on N.C. 211. The jury could not reach a verdict on charges of operating a video gaming machine and misdemeanor electronic sweepstakes.

The jury foreperson told Judge Ebern T. Watson in Bladen County Superior Court the panel was deadlocked 11-1 on the other charges and didn’t believe further deliberations would be able to deliver a unanimous verdict. It wasn’t revealed which way the jury was leaning.

The case revolved around whether four Gift Surplus video sweepstakes machines confiscated from the store in August 2015 were legal under North Carolina law. State law prohibits, in most cases, games of chance, which, the state contended, these machines involved.

Taylor’s defense team maintained the games involved skill and dexterity, and that players received credit to make purchases from the Gift Surplus web site equal to the amount of money put into the machine.

The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for about 3 1/2 hours over two sessions. The panel received the case Friday afternoon, then returned to court Tuesday morning. Shortly before noon, the jury told the court it had reached one verdict, but was deadlocked 11-1 on the other two charges. The jury returned about 15 minutes later and the foreperson told the judge the panel remained deadlocked.

After the verdict was read on the gambling charge, Watson declared a mistrial on the other two charges.

Taylor didn’t want to comment afterward, citing the two charges that were declared mistrials and could be retried.

George Hyler, Taylor’s lead counsel, said, “The jury listened to the evidence and did exactly what we think they should have done.”

District Attorney Jon David said his office would review the case to determine whether to retry Taylor on the charges of operating a video gaming machine and misdemeanor electronic sweepstakes.

“I’m grateful this jury struggled with these issues and that they were able to deliberate a verdict on at least one count,” David said. “I know we have a hung jury on the other two more important charges, and, so, we’ll be evaluating moving forward with what to do with those charges.”

David said some members of the jury told him afterward they based their acquittal of the gambling charge on whether Taylor knew the machines may be against the law.

“It concerned testimony concerning knowledge on (Taylor’s) behalf about whether these machines were legal or not, and what had been communicated to him by the gaming industry, the owners of the machines,” David said. “I’m unclear, at this point, if the jury is basing their decision on the unique facts of this case, or about whether this issue is one more difficult to resolve.

“We have to look at all cases on a case-by-case basis, so, we’ll be reviewing moving forward whether we’ll be retrying these cases.”

The trial was the latest in a series of cases pitting district attorney’s and law enforcement agencies across the state against video sweepstakes machine manufacturers and operators of the once-popular sweepstakes businesses.

Taylor’s case began May 14, 2015, when Bladen County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to K&R Grocery to investigate a break-in, according to testimony. Investigator Matt Hester testified that while searching for evidence, he noticed the four gaming machines in a side room of the store.

On Aug. 11, 2015, David Borresen of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office testified that he entered the store and played one of the machines. He testified that he put $20 in one of the machines, played the Lucky Shamrock 2 game once and won $31. An 11-minute surveillance video was played of Borresen’s undercover operation.

The four Gift Surplus sweepstakes machines were confiscated Aug. 12, 2015. Taylor was charged with operating a video game machine on Dec. 7, 2015, gambling on June 6, and misdemeanor electronic sweepstakes on Aug. 1.