The 10 men, James Jacobs, William Cunningham, Alfred Keys, Bryant Chisholm, Renny Mobley, Mark Gadston, Abel Harris, Benjamin Cummings, Robert Brown Jr. and Corey Moore, were convicted of drugs, property crimes or robbery.
If they were convicted of those offenses alone, they would have faced little or no jail time. But because they were labeled habitual offenders, their sentences were set anywhere from about six to 23 years.
“Someone can be labeled a habitual offender if they've received three prior felony convictions after 1967. Those convictions can be from other states, federal court or other counties in North Carolina,” explained Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Davis.
Jacobs, for example, was found guilty of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, but because of his prior convictions, he was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison as opposed to just probation last month.
Davis said criminals are often referred to as chronic or repeat offenders, which could mean the person has been arrested several times or has committed several misdemeanor crimes, but he said that doesn't make them habitual offenders.
If they were convicted of those offenses alone, they would have faced little or no jail time. But because they were labeled habitual offenders, their sentences were set anywhere from about six to 23 years.
“Someone can be labeled a habitual offender if they've received three prior felony convictions after 1967. Those convictions can be from other states, federal court or other counties in North Carolina,” explained Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Davis.
Jacobs, for example, was found guilty of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, but because of his prior convictions, he was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison as opposed to just probation last month.
Davis said criminals are often referred to as chronic or repeat offenders, which could mean the person has been arrested several times or has committed several misdemeanor crimes, but he said that doesn't make them habitual offenders.