Four Cape Fear men sentenced for dog fighting
Four Cape Fear region men were sentenced Wednesday for their roles in an organized dog fighting ring in Robeson County.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker said the men were sentenced in federal court by Judge Louise W. Flanagan.
James Matthew Blackman, 43, was sentenced to three years probation and 30 days intermittent confinement. Ricky Dial, 55, was sentenced to 8 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Jimmy Jacobs, 40, was sentenced to two years, five months in prison following by three years of supervised release. Blackman, Jacobs and Dial are from Maxton.
Frank Jacobs, 69, of Laurinburg, was sentenced to two years, five months in prise and three years of supervised release.
Additionally, one South Carolina man was sentenced in court Wednesday.
Tony Harris. 35, of Lamar, South Carolina, will spent one year, 11 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
"Word must go out," Walker said in a release Thursday. "Dog fighting, a particularly cruel crime, will not be tolerated."
During the investigation, officials raided one of the several dog fights in Maxton on Feb. 25, 2012.
The men were indicted last July by federal officials who said the men trained and bred pit bulls for the fights.
They also took bets and charged admission to fight spectators.
Spring Lake dog attacked with samurai sword
A dog in Spring Lake was injured several days ago after a neighbor got annoyed with the dog's barking and attacked it with a samurai sword.
Dr. John Lauby, director of Cumberland County Animal Services, said officials responded to the home Wednesday after they learned about the attack.
The unidentified assailant cut off about three-quarters of the dog's ear, left a large cut on the dog's shoulder area, Lauby said.
"It is ghastly," Lauby said. "Animals, they don't understand their ears cut off. They just deal with it."
Lauby said the owner initally thought the dog was hit by a car. However, an different neighbor who was not involved in the incident, told the owner what happened.
Lauby said animal service officials and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and he expects felony animal cruelty charges to be filed against the alleged attacker.
He said the dog's owner has relinquished ownership of the dog because he could not afford to properly care for the dog's injuries. Lauby said the dog was treated and will be placed into a foster care situation until it is healed.
The dog will then be placed into a new home, Lauby said.
Columbus County Sheriff's Office investigating shooting death
WHITEVILLE - The Columbus County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a man who was found near Golf Course and Union Valley roads Tuesday night.
Willie Lee Marley, 54, of the 2100 block of Golf Course Road, died in surgery later that night, Sheriff Chris Batten said in a release.
Deputies responding to a gunshot call found Marley about 6:15 p.m. He was on the ground with a gunshot wound, Batten said. He was taken to Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Investigators are asking for help from the public, Batten said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus County Sheriff's Office at 910-642-6551.
No charges to be filed in Columbus County shooting, prosecutors say
FAIR BLUFF - No charges will be filed in a February shooting that left a man injured, Police Chief Justin Hewett said Wednesday.
Deroy "DeQuinton" James, 20, of Gapway Road, was shot in the leg about 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 16, Hewett said.
Columbus County 911 received two calls, one from DeQuinton's house and the other from a nearby home on Main Street where someone had reported the shooting.
James was on the ground. He said he and a friend were walking when they heard a single gunshot and he fell to his knees.
James was taken to Columbus Regional Healthcare and then flown to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he remains. He is listed in stable condition, Hewett said.
Police identified a suspect, but the man ran before police arrived, Hewett said. When police caught up with him, the man said the gun was in his waistband and that he was playing with it when it went off.
James later told police the shooting was accidental, and called the man his "brother," Hewett said.
Prosecutors in the District Attorney's Office decided not to file charges, Hewett said.
ROBESON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.
Crime
Criminal.com provides contacts, information and resources to assist in the search for criminal records and background checks. Below is a list offices and personal who can provide information for Robeson county North Carolina criminal and public records.
Robeson County Jails
Robeson County Crime Statistics
Law
Enforcement
120 Legend
Rd
Lumberton ,
North Carolina 28358
Telephone:(910) 671-3199
http://www.co.robeson.nc.us
Department
of Corrections
122 Legend
Rd
Lumberton ,
North Carolina 28358
Telephone:
(910) 671-3130
Recording
Office Probate
500 North Elm
St # 102
Lumberton ,
North Carolina 28358
Telephone:
(910) 671-3046
http://www.co.robeson.nc.us
Recent Crime Reports
Robeson County
Break-ins
LUMBERTON — Justin Byrd, of Hayes Street, reported on Thursday
that someone
broke into a vacant home on Warwick Road, causing $100 damage to a
door,
according to a police report.
LUMBERTON — Walter McNeill, of Main Street, reported on Thursday
that someone
broke into his home by prying a window open, and stole copper
valued at $20,
according to a police report. Damage to a gas heater and a window
was estimated
at $200.
Robbery
LUMBERTON — Eric Rogers, of Jerome Street, reported on Thursday
that he was
assaulted outside of Stocks Food Store at 1010 E. Second St., and
was robbed of
$340 cash, according to a police report.
Theft
LUMBERTON — Kay India Fields, of Ayers Court, reported on
Thursday that
someone stole a $300 portable video game system from her home,
according to a
police report.
The following people reported break-ins to the Robeson County
Sheriff’s
Office:
Emanuel Jattan, of N.C. 71 North, Shannon; Libra Ann McRae, of
Ralph Hunt
Boulevard, Orrum; and Zechariah Bird, of N.C. 711, Pembroke.
LUMBERTON — Rose Mary Hunt, of East Fifth Street, reported on
Tuesday that
someone broke into her 2002 Pontiac Sunfire while it was parked at
her home and
stole a stereo system valued at $565, according to a police
report.
LUMBERTON — Lisa Kaxacz, of East Ninth Street, reported on
Tuesday that
someone broke into her home and stole a $100 camera and a $750
diamond ring,
according to a police report. Damage to a door was estimated at
$200.
LUMBERTON — Jimmy Wakley McMillan, of Raisin Road, Rennert,
reported on
Tuesday that someone broke into his 2006 Ford Freestyle while it
was parked at
Motel 6 at 2361 Lackey St., and stole a $496 handgun, $10 cash, and
a key to the
vehicle valued at $2, according to a police report.
Vandalism
LUMBERTON — Scott Thomas, of Pinedale Boulevard, and Jennifer
Whittington, of
East Ninth Street, reported on Tuesday that someone cut three tires
on Thomas’
2011 Toyota Tacoma, causing $750 damage, according to a police
report. Someone
also cut four tires and carved words into the side of Whittington’s
2005 Acura
TSX. The damage was done when both vehicles were parked at
Whittington’s home,
the report said. Damage to the Acura was estimated at $4,800.
Damage to a porch
and a bench was also reported at $350.
The following people reported break-ins to the Robeson County
Sheriff’s
Department:
Purcell Jones, of Mt. Tabor Road, Red Springs; Jeffrey Jones, of
Norment
Road, Lumberton; Ronnie Kelly, of Cold Camp Drive, Parkton; Ronald
Thomas
Stewart, of Earl Drive, Parkton; Alisa Bryant, of N.C. 211 East,
Lumberton;
Gerald Wayne Alfred, of N.C. 72 West, Lumberton; Joyce Marie
Marquita Monte, of
Milan Avenue, Lumberton; Martin Lebron, of West Parkton Tobemory
Road, Parkton;
Stephanie Katherine Hepburn, of Ronald Boulevard, Lumberton; Harvey
Allen
Ransom, of Genes Road, Pembroke; Elkin Wilkins, of Childrens Road,
Red Springs;
and Dennis Paul Jolly, of Seventh Street Road, Lumberton.
Armed robbery
LUMBERTON — Bernard McKenna, of Pearl Street, reported on
Saturday that two
men approached him while he was walking along Pearl Street and
stole his $5
wallet, $50 cash, and a $10 identification card at knife point,
according to a
police report.
Break-ins
LUMBERTON — Bernette Norris Leake, of Beech Court, reported on
Saturday that
someone broke into her home and stole a $20 cable box, a $30
Internet router, a
$70 tablet computer, three televisions valued at $450, a $20 DVD
player, a $150
video game system, video games valued at $150, a $600 violin, and a
$150 laptop
computer, according to a police report.
Fraud
LUMBERTON — Aaron Branch, of the Robeson County Courthouse at
500 N. Elm St.,
reported on Friday that someone paid with a counterfeit $10 bill,
according to a
police report.
LUMBERTON — Birdell McCoy, of East Great Marsh Church Road, St.
Pauls,
reported on Friday that someone stole and cashed six forged checks,
withdrawing
$1,100 from her bank account, according to a police report.
The following people reported break-ins to the Robeson County
Sheriff’s
Office:
Brian Springer, of Combine Drive, St. Pauls; Marie Mangrum, of
Fairley Road,
Maxton; Jackie Dean Hunt, of Red Hill Road, Maxton; Ronnie Hunt, of
Allenton
Road, Lumberton; Norman Copeland, of Johnson Road, Red Springs;
Jerry Lynn Bell,
of Harpers Ferry Road, Maxton; James Ophair Gaddy, of Gaddy Road,
Fairmont;
Doris Oliver, of N.C. 72 East, Lumberton; Israel Ramirez, of
McBridge Road, Red
Springs; Clarence Thomas, of Ball Park Road, Lumberton; and Garry
Wayne Huggins,
of Merritt Court, Fairmont.
