DA: Property Team Convicts 48 Defendants, Sends Two Sex Offenders to Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –   Forty-eight defendants pled guilty to property crimes in Mecklenburg County
Superior Court from Monday, September 17 through Friday, September 21, 2012.  The defendants entered their pleas in courtroom 5350 before The Honorable James W. Morgan, Superior Court Judge.  The convictions were for crimes that included  failing to register as a sex offender, second degree burglary, felony breaking or entering, felony larceny, larceny of a firearm, breaking or entering a motor vehicle, obtaining property by false pretense, embezzlement and financial transaction card theft.

Among those convicted were the following:

Roderick Antoine Alexander, 45, pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender.  Judge Morgan sentenced Alexander to 26-41 months in prison.  He was previously convicted of second degree rape in 1993, and of failing to register as a sex offender in 2010.
Preston Applewhite, 29, pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender.  Judge Morgan sentenced Alexander to 20-33 months in prison.  He was previously convicted of attempted second degree rape in 2001.
Jaquell Villegas, 17, pled guilty to second degree burglary, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, breaking or entering a motor vehicle, and misdemeanor larceny.  Judge Morgan sentenced Vellegas to 10-21 months in prison.

Jaquell Villegas

Preston Applewhite

Roderick Antoine Alexander

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.

Amber Alert: Missing NC Girl & Captor May Be in Myrtle Beach

As the investigation continues into the case of a missing 12 year-old girl, authorities in Carteret County, NC believe she may be in Myrtle Beach with her captor, a registered sex offender. An amber alert displays messages about Abigale Lefevers across the freeways of North Carolina. Detectives have reason to believe she is with 38 year-old Timothy Newman, who may be in or around the Myrtle Beach marinas or on a boat in the area.

When Lefevers was last seen by her father on Sunday evening she was carrying a pink backpack and wearing black Nike tennis shoes. She stands 5'4" tall and weighs about 90 pounds with brown eyes and hair.

Timothy Newman weighs around 210 pounds and stands 5'8" tall with brown hair and eyes. Police think he may be driving his vehicle, a red 1998 Chrysler Sebring with NC license plate AKT-6534.

Anyone that has inforamtion on this case is asked to contact the Carteret County Sheriffs Office by calling (252) 504-4800. You can also dial *HP or 911.

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. 

Catawba County Sheriffs Arrest Man for Sex Offenses

Eddie Eugene Clemmer, Sr.

Catawba County Sheriffs arrested 51 year-old Eddie Eugene Clemmer Sr. of Sherrills Ford Tuesday night on a host of sexual offense charges.

Clemmer was released to the custody of Kannapolis Police, who charged him with felony first degree statutory rape, second degree rape, second degree sex offense and two counts each of of first degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child.

The charges stem from a Kannapolis police investigation of sexual abuse committed during a three year period in the mid-to-late nineties.

Clemmer is currently jailed in Rowan County under a $200,000 bond. He will appear in Rowan County court Thursday.

Lincoln County Sex Offender Arrested For Invalid Address

Elvis Setzer

Lincoln County Sheriffs arrested 33 year-old Elvis Setzer for felony failure to notify change of address of a sex offender, after the address he gave authorities was almost a decade old. Setzer, a registered sex offender, is required by law to give a valid address.

Officials were taking part in a new initiative to authenticate the residency of convicted sex offenders when they called to check Setzer's address. He is jailed in Lincoln County under a $10,000 bond.

Catawba County Man Found Guilty of Sex Crimes

Hickory native James Allen Minyard, 47, was found guilty of a host of sexual charges. He was convicted of 5 counts of indecent liberties with a child and felony attempted first degree sex offense with a child under age 13. In addition to those charges, Minyard was designated a habitual felon.

He was arrested by Burke County sheriffs in 2009 after reports that a child in his care was being assaulted sexually by Minyard. The victim is Minyard's ex-girlfriend's son, according to the Hickory Daily Record. Police say the abuse took place several times from March to August of 2009.

Minyard received a sentence of 225-279 months in prison and has denied his guilt.

Former Basketball Coach From Hickory High Charged With Taking Indecent Liberties With Former Students

Shawnacie Johnson, the former head coach of the Hickory High School men's basketball team, is now facing five charges of indecent liberties with 2 former students.

Johnson, 38, was indicted last month when a second alleged victim, also a former student, went to authorities. Johnson allegedly had sex with a then 14 year old student multiple times from 2007 on, according to court documents.

We will update this story as more information is released.

Please Help Keep Child Killer Fred Coffey Behind Bars!!!

UPDATE:  In July 2012, convicted child killer Fred Coffey is up for parole again... Please take the time to send an e-mail or letter on Amanda Ray's behalf and help keep Coffey in jail!  ~ Website about Amanda Ray case

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Please read the following letter written by the Mother of 10-year old murder victim, Amanda Marie Ray. Please help keep Amanda's murderer behind bars! Please take a minute to write the NC parole board and request Fred Coffey, Jr. be kept behind bars. His parole review is on July 21, 2012 so please get your letters printed and sent ASAP.

Dear Friends,

It is time again for Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. to receive a parole review. As most of you already know, he was convicted of murdering my daughter, Amanda Marie Ray, in 1979.

He was not found and brought to trial until October of 1986 when he was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death. The NC Supreme Court overturned the death sentence (not the guilty verdict) and he received a re-sentencing hearing in May of 1991. AGAIN, he was given the death sentence. 


Then in September of 1995, due to a technicality, he was re-sentenced.....this time to life in prison. The jury voted 10 to 2 for the death penalty. However, with the two holdouts, the judge had no recourse but to sentence him to life. At the time of the last re-sentencing hearing, the N. C. Court system did not have a life without parole 
option.

As a result, this individual comes up every three years for a parole review. Most of you are familiar with this case. You know that Coffey is a suspect in twelve child murders in five states. He admitted to a psychiatrist that he had molested over 100 children up and down the East coast. Of course, the jury was not privy to this as it was found too prejudicial. However, it is in the transcript of the trial.

He had previously been found guilty and was sentenced to 50 years for molesting his own niece.

Our family would appreciate your taking the time to write the Parole Board on Amanda's behalf.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Please send a letter to be received prior to Coffey's parole review date of July 21, 2012 to request denial of parole. THE PAROLE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO READ EACH LETTER. All letters are brought to the parole review and stacked in plain sight. They DO make a difference.

- or -

Print the letter provided by the family, sign your name and send to the address below. Please be sure and include Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. and DOC #0081135 on any correspondence.

NC Post Release Supervision & Parole Commission
P.O. Box 29540
Raleigh, NC 27626-0540
RE: Fred Howard Coffey, DOC# 0081135

** Links: Court Documents- Background info on Fred Coffey

* NEW*  Justice for Amanda on Facebook

Sex Offender Registry Links & Info

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY LINKS: 

• NC Sex Offender Registry @ http://sexoffender.ncdoj.gov/disclaimer.aspx 
• National Sex Offender Registry @ http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/Conditions.aspx 
• More Info about the Sex Offender Registry Program @ http://ncdoj.gov/Protect-Yourself/Find-Sex-Offenders/SexOffenderRegPrograms.aspx

WANTED: Charlotte's Non-Compliant Sex Offenders

The following 33 registered sex offenders in Mecklenburg County have failed to notify the Sheriff's Department of a valid address.  All 33 people shown in this slideshow have active warrants for arrest.  If you have any information on their immediate whereabouts, call 911 or call in a tip to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.




(RSS Feed)

 Useful Links:

• National Sex Offender Registry
• North Carolina Department of Justice Victim and Citizens Services
• North Carolina Department of Correction Offender Search Page
• US Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
• North Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Safety
• NC General Assembly
• NC Sheriff’s Association
• NCMEC - Preventing the Sexual Exploitation of Children

Sex Offender on Electronic Monitoring Charged with Rape

Jason Miller

UPDATE:  4/24/12- Jason Miller was found dead in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County jail this morning.  According to the Sheriff Dept, it appears to be a natural death.

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It is my opinion that some criminals cannot be stopped nor rehabilitated!  For example, 38-year old Jason Lamont Miller.  He is a registered sex offender and on electronic monitoring who is accused of raping a woman in the early morning hours Wednesday on North Graham St.

Thankfully, the victim noticed the suspect was wearing an ankle bracelet so her testimony is the only reason why he was apprehended quickly.

According to a Charlotte Observer article,  Miller had been released from prison in 2010 after serving two years for taking indecent liberties with a minor, and was being monitored by authorities there, said Capt. Mike Smathers, who oversees the department's robbery and sexual assault unit.

Christopher Guy Sentenced to 55 years in Prison for Child Sex Offenses

Christopher Guy

Christopher Guy, 39, was convicted by a jury on June 30, 2011 of three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, two counts of attempted first-degree sex offense and one count of first-degree sex offense.

Christopher Guy, who called himself the "Anti-Christ," was convicted as the result of the testimony of two very brave children who spoke out about what the defendant did to them.  The Mecklenburg County D.A.'s Office stated they "admire the courage of these two girls (aged 8 & 9) that made the prosecution of this dangerous criminal possible."

A jury of twelve citizens dedicated four days of their lives to the consideration of the evidence.  Guy represented himself at trial.  Upon the return of the guilty verdicts, The Honorable Jesse B. Caldwell, III, sentenced Guy to a total of 666-827 months (approximately 55-68 years) in prison.

Charlotte Man Arrested for 26 Child Sex Charges

Michael Washington

Early this morning, Officers arrested Michael Everett Washington for 26 different child sex warrants, including; 14 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 6 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and 6 counts of 1st Degree Sex Offense- Victim under 13. 

Washington has a neck brace in his mugshot because he was in a serious car accident on April 7th.  He flipped his car after hitting a drainage pipe on Harrisburg Rd and broke his neck.

It was the car crash that led to his arrest... a passenger picked up Washington's cell phone by accident and discovered several photos and videos of Washington having sex with a pre-teen girl.   She called police and Michael Washington is exactly where he should be!

Charlotte Man Convicted of Sending Child Pornography via Internet

Rashod Robinson

Rashod Robinson, 27, was convicted by a jury in federal court on Thursday for a child pornography he was indicted for on October 19, 2010.  The indictment charged Robinson with one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

During the trial, testimony revealed that in 2009 and 2010, agents with the FBI in Cleveland, Ohio, were conducting an online undercover investigation targeting people who used the Internet to share child pornography.  At trial, an FBI agent testified that he encountered a person using the name "rr75727" on the Internet and that rr75727 was making child pornography available to others who wanted to download it from him.

The FBI agent in Cleveland downloaded two videos and 18 images of child pornography directly from Robinson's computer. During the trial, agents from the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Charlotte offices of the FBI testified that the investigation into the identity of 'rr75727' led to a home located in Charlotte.  On May 26, 2010, Charlotte FBI agents executed a search warrant at Robinson's home. FBI agents determined that Robinson lived at the home when he was on breaks from attending college at Virginia Military Institute.

On the day of the search, FBI agents seized several computers, including two that belonged to Robinson. An FBI computer forensic examiner told the jury that he examined Robinson’s computers and found child pornography, including the same two videos and 18 pictures that the FBI agent in Cleveland had downloaded from Robinson on January 6, 2010, on both computers.

Robinson will remain in custody until his sentencing date, which has not been set yet. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Charlotte Man Sent to Prison for Luring Girl on Internet for Sex

Kareem Kirk

On April 25, 2011, the trial of NC -v- Kareem Kirk came before a jury in the Mecklenburg County courthouse with Superior Court Judge Christopher Collier presiding.  Kirk was found guilty of two counts of abduction of a child and four counts of statutory rape.  He was sentenced to 32-39 years in prison for the rape charges and 2 years for abducting a child.  His sentences are to be served consecutively. 

The state showed evidence to the jury that on July 3, 2007, a 15-year old girl was reported missing by her parents in Springfield, Mass.  During the 'missing child' investigation, officers searched the girl's computer and found e-mails showing a man (Kirk) had been pursuing an online relationship with her for nearly two years.  In the e-mails, Kirk told the young girl he was Muslim and wanted to make her his second wife as well as convincing her to send him bare photos.  Kirk is married with four children.

On the day the girl disappeared, Kareem Kirk drove 800 miles to Massachusetts to pick her up and bring her back to Charlotte, NC.  The child was found by the CMPD four days later, sitting on a park bench in the University Area.  The victim told police that the defendant had made her dress in Muslim garb and engaged in oral and anal sex with her while she was here in Charlotte.  The child was reunited with her family in Massachusetts and Kirk was arrested.

Man Charged with 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Robert Bove

Robert Bove, 53, was arrested Friday and charged with 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. According to the police search warrant, investigators seized Bove's computer, several CD's, a camera and other equipment from Bove's home, located near the Ballantyne area.

According to the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, the undercover investigation began in September of 2010.  Sgt. Greg Zager of the Sturgeon Bay Police Department began an undercover investigation involving Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

During this investigation Sgt. Zager spoke in an online parenting chat room with a 53 year old North Carolina man identified as Robert Bove. During the course of this investigation Bove sent photos and digital images of very young children to Sgt. Zager, most or all kids in various stages of undress.  Bove signed on to a Yahoo chat room using the name "luvsyourlittlegirl."

Charlotte Man Charged with Child Pornography in Federal Court

David Gerard Smith, 56, was criminally charged today by the Federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte, in a federal bill of indictment alleging in two separate counts that he did knowingly produce child pornography.

A third count alleges that David Gerard Smith knowingly possessed child pornography.

Today’s announcement is made by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan, Owen D. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI operations in North Carolina, and Chief Rodney Monroe of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

“Producing and possessing child pornography are serious federal crimes, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan.

Defendant Smith is currently in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Corrections and will be brought into federal custody at a future date to face the current charges.

A date for his initial appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been set. If convicted, David Gerard Smith faces no less than 15 years in federal prison (commonly known as a “mandatory minimum” sentence) on each of the two counts alleging roduction of child pornography (counts one and two). Count three possession of child pornography) carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

CMPD Makes Cyber Crime Arrests

The CMPD Cyber Crimes Unit in cooperation with Federal partners in the Department of Justice continues to identify and prosecute local individuals who engage in the sexual exploitation of minors via the Internet.

This ongoing project has resulted in two arrests for sexual exploitation of a minor within the past two weeks.

Arrested to date: Jason Frederick Gore & Richard Harvey

Mr. Gore was charged with a single count along with unrelated drug charges and has been released on a secure bond.

Mr. Harvey remains in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office with a bond in excess of $100,000, with 22 separate charges.
During this project, suspects apprehended will be charged with all appropriate State and Federal charges.

This is an ongoing project and details about the nature of the undercover work will not be made available by police.