Christa Harris Reavis was sentenced Monday to 44 to 65 months, according to District Attorney Mike Waters.  That’s just over three and a half years of jail time up to almost five and a half years of possible jail time.

Waters told WIZS News back in October, “Through her attorney, Christa Harris Reavis delivered a check to the Vance County Clerk of Superior Court the day after her plea (in September), later the next week she submitted to a polygraph examination administered by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.  The District Attorney’s Office will report to Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Roberrt H. Hobgood that she has cooperated with law enforcement since the entry of the plea.”

And the sentencing went as planned Monday.

What is now of additional interest to the residents of Vance County is if additional information learned between Reavis’ plea and Reavis’ sentencing will result in the recovery of additional funds, if others were involved, and if additional people will be prosecuted.

Waters has not offered answers to any of those questions.  It is unlikely Waters or anyone will comment, for obvious reasons, unless additional arrests are made.

Reavis pleaded guilty Wednesday, September 9, 2015 to one count of embezzlement by a government employee in excess of $100,000, a Class C Felony. As a part of her plea, Harris was ordered to pay $20,000.00 to the Vance County Clerk of Superior Court.

Waters said at the time in September, “Other terms of the plea are: She will have to cooperate with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation which will include her being debriefed on the matter, and she will then have to submit to a polygraph exam.”  Being debriefed and then undergoing a polygraph exam will allow investigators to determine if Reavis knows something else and assist the County of Vance in recovering additional funds.

Sentencing was delayed until now.

Waters said in September, “The delay in sentencing will allow authorities to fully investigate the matter to make sure no one else was involved, possibly recover additional assets and allow Vance County to review internal procedures.”

It is not always the case that a county can fully evaluate itself with the help of someone providing information who previously exploited the county.

Waters said in September, “She will be sentenced November 30th, and she will get a sentence of 44 to 65 months, provided that she cooperates with law enforcement, including submission to a polygraph exam and providing that she gives $20,000.00 to the clerk within nine days.”

The plea to a Class C felony is a plea to the highest offense possible.  The forgery and uttering charges were dismissed in this matter and did not include the possibility of jail time anyway.  Reavis will not be charged further.

This all stems from the July 2014 discovery that a vendor check was intercepted and altered out of state, unrelated to the Reavis case. The internal review uncovered irregularities that began the criminal investigation.

The plea arrangement followed a hearing on the Defendant’s Motion to Suppress her statement given to investigators with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. A previous Motion to Suppress regarding the seizure of bank records had also been denied by Judge Hobgood.  Waters said, “A plea arrangement saves the County of Vance and the State of North Carolina thousands and thousands of dollars by not having to go to trial, especially in a case like this that would take weeks to try.” The trial of the case had already been moved to Franklin County because of the extensive press coverage.

Waters was emphatic that the hard work of investigators with Sheriff Peter White’s Office helped bring the matter to a successful conclusion.

Preparation Guide From Vance County Emergency Management

Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory has declared November 29 through December 5 as Winter Weather Preparedness Week and is urging North Carolinians to update their emergency supplies kits and review emergency plans.

“During the past two years we’ve seen several statewide winter storms with significant snow and ice accumulations,” said Governor McCrory. “This winter the National Weather Service is predicting above-normal amounts of precipitation. Regardless if that comes as rain, ice or snow, it is important to prepare now for winter weather. Weather conditions can change rapidly, so planning ahead can help your family stay safe this winter.”

North Carolina’s Piedmont region averages six to 12 winter events annually with measurable snow, sleet, freezing rain or cold rain. The coastal regions typically experience less than four events, while the mountains can see 12 or more winter events annually. North Carolina’s proximity to the Appalachian Mountains, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Stream and Gulf of Mexico means it can experience a variety of winter weather patterns that provide a mixed bag of precipitation.

“North Carolina winters are often unpredictable with combinations of the potential for snow, sleet, ice and freezing rain,” said Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry. “The past few years have reminded us that southern winters are not all mild. Knowing what to do, having what you need and staying informed can help you stay safe this winter.”

Nick Petro, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said this year’s winter outlook features an elevated chance for above-normal amount of precipitation. “A strong El Nino, a warming of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean and overlying atmosphere, is likely to impact North Carolina this winter. Historically, a strong El Nino brings above-normal precipitation (usually rain) to the Carolinas in the months of December through February. That rainfall could easily turn into snow if the temperatures do not climb high enough,” Petro explained.

Petro advised all residents to monitor changing weather conditions by listening carefully to their National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, local radio and television stations for storm watches or warnings. When winter weather warnings are issued, the public should be prepared for possible power outages or roads made impassable by snow or ice.

North Carolina Emergency Management officials urges people to:

• Keep alternative heating sources prepared. If you have a fireplace, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood. Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows how to use them.
• Properly vent kerosene heaters and keep any electric generators OUTSIDE and away from any open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, do not burn charcoal indoors. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from charcoal fumes indoors.
• Keep fresh batteries on hand to use with flashlights and weather radios.
• Always keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food in your home.
• Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing to stay warm. You will be warmer and, as the temperature changes, you can easily remove layers to remain comfortable.
• Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include blankets, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, battery booster cables and flares, a tire repair kit and pump, a road map, a sack of cat litter (for tire traction), a tow rope, bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods such as granola bars, extra clothing to keep dry, and a windshield scraper and brush.

State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry warned that most deaths attributed to winter storms result from indirect dangers such as traffic accidents, falling trees, downed power lines, house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from improper use of space heaters, grills and stoves.

“People need to remember that driving on ice- or snow-covered roads is not the same as any other day,” Sprayberry added. “Roads are extremely slick. You need to reduce your speed and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles.”

North Carolina emergency officials remind residents that if conditions worsen and you can no longer drive safely, then pull off the highway, stay calm and remain in your vehicle. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter.

The Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service work together to give the public the most up-to-date and accurate weather and safety information to help residents take the proper measures to protect themselves, their neighbors and loved ones from the effects of dangerous winter storms.

For more information on how to prepare for winter storms, download the free ReadyNC app, which provides real-time information on traffic and weather conditions plus open shelters and items needed in an emergency supplies kit, or visit www.readync.org.

(Information Provided to WIZS by Press Release)