Cherryville Man Sentenced to 20+ Years For Statutory Rape

Larry Alvis Crowder

Forty-one year-old Larry Alvis Crowder pleaded guilty to four counts of statutory rape and three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor on Monday. Crowder, a native of Cherryville in Gaston County, picked up a 14 year-old girl from her home after she had a fight with her mother on January 28, 2011. That's when he drove her to a Cabarrus County hotel and engaged in sexual acts with her.

Crowder was arrested hours later in Rock Hill after the girl's mother called police and an amber alert was issued. Crowder had made sexual advances towards the girl from May to December of 2010.

Crowder pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain in which charges from other counties involving the same incident were dropped. He was sentenced to 20 to 24 years in prison and will be monitored via satellite for the rest of his life.

Kannapolis Teen Arrested for Weapon of Mass Destruction

Afdal Azam Ali Leach

Nineteen year-old Afdal Azam Ali Leach was arrested in Kannapolis under charges of possession of a weapon of mass destruction and resisting public officers.

Leach was taken into custody after police discovered a match head-filled tennis ball in his possession.

Authorities have reported that Leach was not involved with protesters at the DNC.

Murder Suspect Commits Armed Robbery in Cabarrus County

Danielle Holmes

On August 22, 2010, Danielle Holmes was arrested for murdering Oscar Chavez during a heroin drug deal gone bad with her boyfriend Jonathan Fitzgerald. 

According to the MCSO Inmate information, Holmes was held in the Mecklenburg County Jail on a $800,000 bond until December 22, 2010 when she was bailed out and put on electronic monitoring until her trial date. 

On July 16th, Danielle Holmes, 18, was arrested again by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office and is charged with armed robbery, conspiracy and two drug charges.  Her bond is set at $1,000,000.  (Read Police Report)

** Fellow Charlotte blogger, Cedar Posts, has an excellent post showing the downfall on a young woman with a heroin addiction.  Holmes was 17 when she was charged with murder.

Missing Woman Janet Simpson Found Dead in Catawba River

Detectives with the CMPD Homicide Unit and Missing Persons Unit have confirmed they have located the body of missing person, 56-year old Janet Simpson.

Ms. Simpson was last seen in SE Charlotte on December 5, 2010. Her SUV was found in Belmont a few days later, which is about 3/4 of a mile from where her body was found today.

The body was found floating in the Catawba River off Amos Smith Road in the Freedom Division.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Burkard is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Two Killed During Robbery at Sun Drop Bottling Co.

Shortly after 10:00 Friday morning, a man robbed the Sundrop Bottling Company on Branchview Drive in Concord.

During the robbery, two people were shot and killed and police are still looking for the robber. Police say the two murder victims are 58-year old Donna Barnhardt and 44-year old Darrell Noles. Barnhardt was a secretary at the business for 18 years and Noles was at the plant applying for a job.

Police say the man leaving the building was black man with a slim build. He had dreadlocks down to his shoulders and he wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans. If you have any information, please call the Concord Police Department. - Listen to 911 Call