CMPD Catches 25th Offender to Remove Electronic Monitor in 2012

Channing Banks

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested 19 year-old Channing Banks on Tuesday for illegally removing his electronic monitoring device.

After two weeks on the run, Banks was apprehended by CMPD on Central Avenue. The 25th offender to remove his device, Banks had been monitored since his release from jail in August. He had been jailed for larceny and possession of stolen goods.

With Banks's arrest, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have now caught every offender to remove their electronic monitoring device this year.

CMPD Arrest Man for Stolen, Counterfeit Checks

Glen Perry Witcher, Jr,

Forty-four year-old Glen Perry Witcher, Jr. was arrested on charges of passing counterfeit checks which he made after stealing a real check.

Witcher, a Charlotte resident, is accused of taking the check from the mailbox of a woman in Iredell County. He then made the fake checks with the information contained on the real check. He was able to cash one of the checks at a Fifth Third Bank in Davidson. The stolen check was reported to police, who identified Witcher after speaking with bank employees..

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested Witcher last week and released him to the custody of Iredell County authorities.

Mall Santa Convicted for Solicitation of Minor

A man from Cary, NC, that portrays Santa Clause at malls around the state pleaded guilty last Friday to soliciting a child by computer and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities arrested 70 year-old John Thompson Peters in January at a fast food restaurant in Apex. Peters had planned to meet a 15 year-old girl that he met on the internet. According to police, Peters had solicited the girl for sex.

Peters posed as an amateur photographer and said he was searching for new models. The judge sentenced Peters to up to three years of prison time. In addition, Peters must register as a sex offender upon his release.

Prostitution Sting Leads to Six Arrests

Albert Henderson

A sting operation in Charlotte produced six arrests for prostitution on Wednesday. Complaints from concerned citizens about prostitution-related robberies sparked the operation.

Both undercover and uniformed police officers took to the streets to identify the suspects in a sting of robberies and prostitution activity around the Eastway Drive and Frontenac Avenue areas located near Shamrock Drive.

Those arrested in the operation include 37 year-old Delmonica Cuthberson, 42 year-old Wendi Wolfe and Lisa Ayers, 20 year-old Chatal McFadden, and 21 year-old Michela Cornett. These women were charged on various prostitution-related solicitation and loitering charges. Twenty-two year-old Albert Henderson was charged with possession of firearm by felon.

Michela Cornett

Wendi Wolfe

Lisa Ayers

Denver Man Arrested for Bathroom Footage of Teenage Girl

Forty year-old Wilford Dwight Avery, II was arrested Friday after a 17 year-old girl told police he had footage of her while she was in her bathroom.

According to Lincoln County Sheriffs, the girl found the footage on a camera in Avery's tractor-trailer. When she discovered herself on the camera, she went to police.

Avery, of Denver, is charged with secretly peeping into a room occupied by a female, a felony. He is being jailed in Lincoln County under a $15,000 bond.

Missing NC Girl Found Safe in Florida

The manhunt for 12 year-old Abigale Faith Lefevers ended Wednesday evening as she was discovered safe and sound in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Hallandale Beach is just south of Hollywood and over 800 miles from her home. Lefevers' alleged captor, 38 year-old Timothy Newman, was apprehended in the process. Police credit information received from public tips to the breakthrough discovery.

An Amber Alert and information about Lefevers' disappearance was circulated in Georgia, and authorities say the tips came pouring in for two days. After authorities received information that the two were in the Coral Gables, Florida area, they circulated information there, too.

The big break came when an off-duty police officer recognized the  red Chrysler Sebring the pair were driving after receiving information on his cell phone. He quickly informed on-duty officers and the stop was made.

Authorities say Lefevers is fine aside from being slightly frazzled from the past few days. She had been missing since Monday when police found her, but had been texting Newman in the past few weeks. Efforts are being made to transport her back to North Carolina.


This isn't Newman's first encounter with the law. He served over 12 months in prison after being convicted of two count of sexual offense. Those charges involved a 14 year-old girl in Stokes County, NC. Newman was released on parole in October of 2005 for those charges, but his parole was revoked in 2010. He served eight months before his released from prison in March of 2011.

Newman now faces multiple charges, which are pending.

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.

Iredell Sheriffs Charge 2 Men With 25 Local Burglaries

Stephen Buchanan

Iredell County Sheriffs charged two men in connection with a large string of robberies throughout the southern part of the county.

Thirty-seven year-old Matthew Little and 27 year-old Stephen Buchanan have been linked to 25 thefts in the areas of Mooresville and Troutman.

Little was arrested on August 16 after acting as an accomplice to Buchanan in a larceny and breaking and entering in Troutman. Buchanan was shot during the burglary and was still at the scene when police arrived. He was taken by air to Carolinas Medical Center where he received treatment before his subsequent release and arrest.

Matthew Little

Catching Buchanan in the act of burglary was a pivotal development in the case to find the men responsible for the thefts. Little had left Buchanan at the scene but was later caught nearby by deputies. After obtaining a search warrant, Sheriffs found stolen property in the car the men were operating. The stolen property tied the two men to the slew of other robberies.

Both men are being jailed in Iredell County while they await trial. Buchanan is being held under a $605,000 secured bond, while Little is being held under a $300,000 secured bond.

Pastor of Hickory Church Arrested for Indecent Liberties

William Bradley Moss

William Bradley Moss, the pastor of a Hickory church, was arrested yesterday on charges of indecent liberties with a child. Moss was arrested at his Newton home shortly after 5:00 Monday evening . He is the pastor of Victory Empowerment Center International of Hickory.

Authorities started the investigation in July after the mother of the victim notified police of a possible sex offense. Detectives determined that the sexual assault took place in Newton, though Moss met the victim at the church he pastors.

Moss is currently jailed in Catawba County under a bond of $100,000 and faces his first court appearance Wednesday.

Lancaster County Traffic Stop Results in Drug Bust

Lepoleon Hall

A Lancaster County traffic stop resulted in a large drug arrest last Thursday, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. The checkpoint was set up on Zion Road near Highway 200.

Thirty-five year-old Lepoleon Hall was arrested after officers found a pound of marijuana, a loaded handgun, and approximately 277 grams of cocaine. Authorities searched Hall after he was caught driving on a suspended license for the second time.

Hall was charged with trafficking cocaine, intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful carrying of a handgun, and 2nd offense driving under suspension. He was transporting drugs with a total street value of around $28,500.
Hall is currently jailed in Lancaster County without bond.

"Operation Wax House" Takes Down Charlotte Mortgage Fraud Cell

The FBI's Charlotte Division, together with the Criminal Investigation department of the IRS, are conducting an ongoing investigation into mortgage fraud and bank bribery in Charlotte. The investigation is known as "Operation Wax House" and targets Mecklenburg and Union Counties. Nine new defendants have been indicted on federal charges of fraud and conspiracy.

An indictment was unsealed on Monday that revealed six defendants were charged with money laundering, conspiracy, mortgage fraud conspiracy, bank bribery conspiracy, and wire fraud charges on September 19. Additionally, three other defendants were separately charged by information provided through the plea agreements of others.

The group is accused of taking part in a mortgage fraud cell that was operating in the Charlotte region. The scheme involved builders, promoters, lawyers, buyers, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents. The scheme essentially worked by granting a mortgage based on an inflated home price given by the builder. The involved parties then split the difference between the actual price and the inflated price once the home was sold.

The latest defendants charged in the investigation are:

33 year-old Chris T. Berlin of Sumpter, SC
42 year-old James E. Fink of Waxhaw, NC
41 year-old Jimmy Hitchcock of Raleigh, NC
39 year-old Mitzi Jackson of Charlotte, NC
45 year-old Michelle V. Mallard / Michelle V. Crawford of Montgomery, AL
38 year-old Coley Scagliarini of Charlotte, NC

The following defendants have agreed to plead guilty to their charges:

31 year-old Arketa Banks of Sylva, NC
38 year-old Jeffrey Viegas of Charlotte, NC
44 year-old Bonnette Bradley of Charlotte, NC

In all, Operation Wax House has now charged 50 people in connection to the investigation, which is part of an initiative created by President Obama which included the creation of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force in 2009. The task force is in place to to fight back against financial criminals across the United States.

Six Suspects Arrested In CMPD Robbery Sting

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have announced six arrests that come as the culmination of a robbery sting that took place on Thursday. Police cited 28 charges to the men for the robberies of eight Charlotte convenience stores from July 26 to September 20.

The breakthrough came after a robbery at the Shell gas station located at 2519 Beatties Ford Road. A K-9 dog located the robbery suspect a house on Ablewood Road. Police found six men at that residence, four of which were charged in connection with two robberies that occurred Thursday; one was the robbery on Beatties Ford Road, another was at the Circle K on North Graham Street.

Those charged include two 17 year-olds - Anfernee Nash and Sanchez Nicholson; three 19 year-olds - Jacobe Lavonne Walker, Dondrae Lamar Stewart, and Xavier Mills; and 20 year-old Desmond Stone.

The men are accused of taking part in the following robberies:

• The July 26 and September 12 robberies of the 7-11 at 5455 Brookshire Boulevard
• The September 6 robbery at an ATM on Hovis Road
• The September 9 robbery of the Food Mart at 309 Bradford Drive 
• The September 16 robbery of the Busy Mini Mart at 114 South Hoskins Road



Desmond Stone

• The September 19 robbery of the Sunoco convenience store at 3814 
• Brookshire Boulevard

Anfernee Nash

Sanchez Nicholson

Jacobe Lavonne Walker

Xavier Mills

Dondrae Lamar Stewart

Overnight Traffic Stop Produces 16 DWI's

Sixteen people were arrested for driving while intoxicated after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police conducted a traffic checkpoint Saturday night. The checkpoint was held on Park Road close to it's intersection with Kenilworth Avenue and Scott Avenue in south Charlotte.

Of the sixteen DWI arrests, four were under the legal drinking age of 21. There were also two drug charges and one stolen firearm charge. Fourteen people were caught driving with no license, while five were driving on a revoked license. In all, 58 charges were issued.

Checkpoints like this are critical to maintaining the integrity of our driving safety in the Charlotte area.

Shelby Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, Another in Hospital

Shelby police officers responded to a call of shots fired at 809 McGowan Road on Thursday night. When they arrived, they found the two victims had been shot.

Fifty-four year-old John Albert Cummings was dead on the scene while Ronnie Lee Pearson, 54, was suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. According to police, Pearson had been involved in a dispute with 49 year-old Sherman Timothy Lee at the house on McGowan Road, when Lee shot Cummings and Pearson. Pearson was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and is expected to recover.

Lee, a resident of Shelby, was arrested and charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Also charged with murder is 49 year-old David Williams, whom police say acted as an accomplice to Lee. Williams and Lee are both jailed in Cleveland County without bond while they await trial.

DA's Office: Crimes Against Persons Team Convicts Sex Offenders, Armed Robbers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –   Forty-four (44) defendants pled guilty in Mecklenburg County Superior Court
before The Honorable Yvonne Mims Evans, Superior Court Judge.  The defendants entered their guilty pleas in courtroom 5350 from Monday, September 10, through Friday, September 14, 2012.  Among them were:

Marcus Kennedy, 32, pled guilty to one count of attempted first degree rape.  Kennedy was sentenced to 225-275 months in prison.
Maurice Bellamy, 38, pled guilty to one count of attempted statutory rape.  Bellamy was sentenced to 126-161 months in prison.
Randolph McCain, 32, pled guilty to common law robbery and admitted his status as an habitual felon.  McCain was sentenced to 116-149 months in prison.
Pesean White, 18, pled guilty to 1) robbery with a dangerous weapon and 2) conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.   White was sentenced to 64-89 months in prison.
Franklin Oxner, 17, pled guilty to 1) three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, 2) two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, 3) first degree burglary and 4) second degree kidnapping.  Oxner was sentenced to 64-89 months in prison.
Donovan Johnson, 21, pled guilty to 1) three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, 2) attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, 3) conspiracy to commit first degree burglary and 4) conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Johnson was sentenced to 51-71 months in prison, followed by a sentence 20-33 months. The sentence of 20-33 months will be suspended pending his successful completion of 30 months of supervised probation.
Jornell Bess, 17, pled guilty to four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Bess was sentenced to 60-84 months in prison.
Andrew English, 46, pled guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.  English was sentenced to 51-74 months in prison.
Michael Cornell, 17, pled guilty to 1) robbery with a dangerous weapon and 2) conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Cornell was sentenced to 45-66 months in prison.
Dequavious Young, 17, pled guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Young was sentenced to 45-63 months in prison.
Antonio Sullivan, 37, pled guilty to 1) felony incest and 2) sexual battery.  Sullivan was sentenced to 21-35 months in prison followed by 150 days in prison.
Ramiro Valdivia, 41, pled guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child.  Valdivia was sentenced to 18-22 months in prison.
Kenneth Rumph, 49, pled guilty to 1) two counts of common law robbery and 2) attempted common law robbery.  Rumph was sentenced to 16-29 months in prison.
Nedim Boric, 21, pled guilty to accessory after the fact to robbery with a dangerous weapon. Boric was sentenced to 15-18 months in prison.
Joel Ramirez, 24, pled guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child.  Ramirez was sentenced to 15-27 months in prison.
Alexander Hernandez, 23, pled guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child.  Hernandez was sentenced to 14-17 months in prison.
Adrian Costeno-Sanchez, 23, pled guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child.  Costeno-Sanchez was sentenced to 13-25 months in prison.

Note:  Almost all guilty pleas entered in criminal administrative court are the result of an agreed upon plea arrangement between the State and the defendant, which is then approved by the sentencing judge.  For more information about why most cases must be resolved by plea negotiation instead of jury trial, please visit the “Understanding Criminal Court” section of the DA’s website at www.charmeckda.com. 

Gastonia Woman Assaults Two Minors in One Day

Toni Meeks

Gastonia police have arrested local resident Toni Nicole Meeks, 39, for two incidents that occurred Thursday.

The first incident occurred at 2760 Meade Avenue. That case involved Meeks using a stun gun on an 11 year-old boy. According to reports, Meeks used the tazer on the boy by shocking him in the neck. Though the boy was transported to an area hospital for burns he sustained, he is expected to recover. Gastonia police charged Meeks assault on a child under 12 and assault with a deadly weapon for that incident.

That same day, Meeks is accused of trying to punch a 17 year-old girl just down the street from the first case. That incident landed Meeks a simple assault charge. After her arrest, Meeks was jailed under a $9,000 bond for the assault with a deadly weapon case and a $1,000 bond for simple assault. Authorities are not certain if the two cases are connected.

DA's Office: Defendant Tried and Convicted for Abusing 3 Year-Old Child

Timothy John Long

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –  Timothy John Long, 28, was found guilty of felony child abuse after a jury trial this week. The trial began on Monday, September 17, in courtroom 5130 of the Mecklenburg County Courthouse before The Honorable R. Allen Baddour, Jr., Superior Court Judge.

On August 12, 2010, Long assaulted a three-year-old child for whom he was supposed to be caring. The child, who had a developmental disability, was admitted to Levine Children’s Hospital with a skull fracture.
The jury returned the guilty verdict late Wednesday afternoon. Judge Baddour sentenced Long to the maximum term allowed by North Carolina law: 31-47 months in prison.

Couple Arrested for Burglarizing Home While Family Buried Infant Son

Jessica Williams

Police in Rowan County have arrested the neighbors of the Munn family for breaking into the family's home while they were attending their one year-old son's funeral on September 11. When they returned home, Parker's parents found that over $4,000 worth of property had been stolen.

Jessica Williams and Bobby Milam were arrested Thursday after police received a tip that the two had sold jewelry to a dealer in the area. That jewelry turned out to belong to Parker's mother. When investigators searched the neighbors' home, they found property belonging to the victims as well as the burnt remains of Parker's birth certificate book.

Bobby Milam

Williams and Milam were charged with larceny, breaking and entering, and obtaining property by false pretenses. They may also face charges of burning personal property.

Thursday Night Traffic Stop Produces 11 Arrests, 117 Citations

Eleven people were put behind bars Thursday night as the result of a DWI checkpoint set up by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Of those 11 people, five were charged with driving while intoxicated.

The checkpoint started at 11:00 Thursday night on the 5200 block of North Sharon Amity Road, near its junction with East W.T. Harris Boulevard. It continued until about 3:00 Friday morning. CMPD handed out 117 citations as a result of the traffic stop, including 32 for driving while license revoked and 28 for driving without a license.

In addition to the DWI's and driving charges, there were two open container charges and five drug charges.

Dog Walking Burglar Now Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

Charges are racking up for 21 year-old Jordan Frye. Frye is the owner of the dog walking service Queen City Dog Service. He was arrested Tuesday on burglary charges for stealing expensive items from his clients' homes while they were away. Because he had earned the trust of his clients, Frye had keys and alarm codes to enter their homes. He admitted to authorities that he had taken 83 items, including jewelry and electronics, from his clients' homes from May to September.

Frye is now being charged with animal cruelty after a search of his home produced a mistreated puppy that quickly died thereafter. According to investigators, 8 month-old Cupcake was found with urine and feces all over her. Frye had been watching the dog over a period of two weeks. Cupcake's owner, who had used Queen City Dog Service for a period of months, was shocked to find out how her dog had been treated.

Frye's charges now include cruelty to animals and several counts of felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.