Former Catawba County Sheriff's captain indicted on several charges "The recordsspeak for themselves, and there isn'tanything else I can add," Bechtel said Friday. Investigators are continuing to search for missing 37-year-old Alison Thomas. He sat as a District Court judge, overseeing the 25th Judicial District Catawba, Burkeand Caldwell counties from 1984-86. The federal indictments were returned by a grand jury on October 15 and 16, 2013, but remained sealed until today's arrests. Please subscribe to keep reading. Example video title will go here for this video. But her request to speak with relatives was denied. Joseph William Clippard, 47, of Laboratory Road in Lincolnton was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Docs allege he solicited/received gifts in exchange . That request came in April 2020.Spencer turned herself in Tuesday morning at the Catawba County Detention Center and was issued a $9,900 secured bond, according to Grube. Breaking Newton- the Catawba County Register of Deeds has just been arrested for embezzlement of a public office. Police say additional charges are expected. David Nixon, Jr. 58, of McClain Train in Lincolnton was charged with sell and deliver crack cocaine. [Reid defeated in Catawba County sheriff's race amid stalking allegations]. Jason Reid appeared in court on Friday after being indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury on felony and misdemeanor charges. Law enforcement agencies conducted a six-month investigation into a drug trafficking organization after receiving multiple complaintsof drug sales and gun-related violence. On April 17, 2020, the SBI investigated possible criminal conduct by Spencer, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining improper compensation during her time as an elected official. WCNC Charlotte confronts roofing company about fake reviews, Person dies in house fire, Lincoln County deputies say, Very warm and rain-free for the first day of March, Weather is 95% favorable for a liftoff tonight, but teams are keeping an eye on weather along Dragons ascent corridor, Catawba County Register of Deeds Donna Hicks Spencer, City releases updated renderings of pedestrian bridge that will connect South End to Uptown, 'If we're going to think globally we have to act locally' | Meck County leaders vote on funding for Atrium Health Innovation District. pic.twitter.com/akfBHeKolJ. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. According to Hickory Police, multiple law enforcement agencies from across the. Catawba County Register of Deeds Donna Hicks Spencer is facing an embezzlement charge following a grand jury indictment, according to the State Bureau of Investigation. It also referencedtext messages from Reid to his ex's new boyfriend that detail locations of where he had been and a picture taken of his car while the couple ate at a restaurant. A Newton man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with an attack against a fellow psychiatric patient at Catawba Valley Medica. Narcotics officers received a number of tips on the Drug Tip Line at 704-736-8606 and complaints from citizens to help identify the street level dealers. Records show Wiseman also did work in Catawba while employed by CDM Smith, a well-known firm based in Boston. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Former Catawba County utilities director sentenced for bribery conviction Barry Edwards, 66, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes from 2012 . On Thursday morning, officials charged Reid with cyber-stalking, misdemeanor stalking, willfulfailure to discharge duties, felony embezzlementand larceny by employee. In Buncombe County, Wiseman's company was awardedat least $2.5 million in county contracts over a roughly four-year period, the first of which was signed less than a month after it was registered by Wisemanin 2014. An SBI spokesperson . Craig Gerard Kempinski, 48, of Lincolnton was charged during three separate incidents. An incident on Jan. 14 led to charges of trafficking by possession, by sale and by delivery, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell and deliver Xanax and sell and delivery of Xanax. Spencer has been charged with embezzlement, two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and failing to discharge the duty of Register of Deeds. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Reid spoke to Channel 9 about ending the relationship with the womanand how she was the one who was accessing his bank account and driving up and down the road in front of his house after becoming upset about the breakup. On Monday, December 6th, a Catawba County grand jury indicted Spencer on one count of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer, two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, and one county of register of deeds failing to discharge duty. Detectives said Donna Spencer stole more than $100,000 from. Naeem Ali Mungro, Gevon Marquise King and Jaron Monte Cornwell headed the organization, according to police. All admit to receiving payments or gifts to which they were not legally entitled as part of the scheme. Crystal Hill walks out of Tuesday's sit-down interview, WBTV Investigates: Monday's unscheduled interview with Dr. CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. Police have arrested the Catawba County Register of Deeds for embezzlement, Channel 9 learned on Tuesday. Some of the defendants in this investigation are validated gang members," police say. While three former Buncombe County managers have pleaded guilty to corruption charges, Wiseman has not been charged. All rights reserved. The indictments claim she fraudulently reported overtime and comp time hours while she was not working. Megan Renee Pilkington, 27, of Lincolnton was charged with possession of heroin. Christopher Lewis, an attorney representing Wiseman in the countys civil suit against, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Catawba County is about an hour and 15 minutes east of Asheville. INDICTED . The indictments were returned Monday but released Friday. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The indictment indicates that Reid obtained the GPS tracker from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office for the purpose of tracking his ex-girlfriend. Despite the allegations, Reid said during his campaign that he would stay in the race,calling the accusations a political ploy. But her request to speak with relatives was denied. The three reportedly worked with others to distribute largeamounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. The indictment also states that Reid repeatedly contacted his ex-girlfriend and sent her messages detailing her location when she did not know how he knew where she was. Wanda Greene's plea deal was accepted. Twelve people, including two Catawba County residents, were indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury on drug charges in May. Constitutional carry bill aims to eliminate handgun permits, Medic: Teen dead, driver seriously injured in crash on I-485 in west Charlotte. The Lincoln County Grand Jury returned 64 charges for the narcotics violations. Cynthia Eades, Catawbas human resources director, said Edwards is retired from the county. Donna Hicks Spencer turned herself in on a Tuesday morning in Dec. 2021 to the Catawba County jail. You have permission to edit this article. An engineer tied to a contracts-for-kickbacks scheme in Buncombe also did landfill and financial work in Catawba County. Last month, a judge unsealed a search warrant used by the SBI at the Catawba County Sheriffs office in April. Wiseman's signature is on a $115,000 contract in December 2012 between the county and CDM for professional engineering services for a landfill system. Prosecutors allege the former county staffers took at least 20 trips beginning in 2014, including both domestic and international travel. She was also charged with maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Elbert James Walton, 70, of Hickory . "This entire situation is a political attack," Reid said before the election. Damario Leshaun Rousseau will be tried as an adult in the shooting death of 35-year-old Shonniel Blackburn in Hickory. They now await sentencing in federal court, and Creighton and Greene have since reached financial settlements with Buncombein civil suits. The State Bureau of Investigation said Spencer was indicted Monday by a Catawba County grand jury on one count of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer, two counts of obtaining. Daniel Steven Helms, 21, of North Drive in Cherryville was charged with possession of heroin. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Please subscribe to keep reading. Two Catawba County residents indicted on drug charges in Lincoln County. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. At one point, Reid said the womanvisited him at work and waited in an area where the narcotics tracking devises were openly kept. He remains under target or subject status by federal investigators, according to civil court records filed by his attorney, meaning a grand jury or prosecutors either have substantial evidence linking him to a crime or his conduct is within the scope of the grand jury's investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story. Watch channel 9 for updates on this developing story. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Catawba County Register of Deed was expected to appear in court Tuesday on charges of embezzlement as an elected official. A 16-month undercover operation by the narcotics division of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office led to indictments on 21 people, including two with ties to Catawba County. Two of the 22 people indicted are still being sought. Clarence Riffle, 41, of Rosehill Drive in Lincolnton was charged with possession of methamphetamine. HICKORY - A Catawba County round-up culminated Tuesday with the arrest of 19 suspects in the greater Hickory area on federal drug and gun charges. Naeem Ali Mungro, 35 of Newton, one count each of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and continuing a criminal enterprise; $1 million bond, Jaron Monte Cornwell, 30of Hickory, one count each of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and continuing a criminal enterprise; $1 million bond, Shamaine Antwon Edwards, 36of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $100,000 bond, John Markel Gaither, 24of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Dershae Mylantus Blackburn, 28of Lincolnton, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $250,000 bond, Terrance Keon Geter, 33of Greensboro, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Tyrone Javelle Bowens, 47of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Gevon Marquise King, 34 ofHickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, no bond, Robert Jason Jenkins, 30of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Eddie Carlos Linder, 37of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $250,000 bond, Rahshawn Jarday Williams, 27 of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Jasean Cantrell Abernathy, 23of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $250,000 bond, Karl Brantley Rinehardt, 40 of Conover, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $250,000 bond, Damian Dion Liles, 39of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Devonta Marquise Beatty, 27 of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Lavonne Lee White,36 of Newton, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $250,000 bond, Steven Antwan Good, 35of Hickory, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $125,000 bond, Christo George Helton, 60 of Hickory, one count of felony obstruction of justice, $100,000 bond, William Bernard Mitchell, 49 of Gastonia, one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, $500,000 bond, Nathaniel Thomas Hatcher, 43of Jacksonville, FL; one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, N.C. 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