-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that CHARLIE O’BRYANT TERRY, 33, of Henderson, North Carolina was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt to 240 months imprisonment, 24 months on a revocation of supervised release followed by 3 years’ supervised release after the term of imprisonment.
TERRY was named in a six-count Superseding Indictment on June 15, 2017. On September 25, 2017, TERRY pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. At the time of the offense to which he pled guilty, TERRY was actively being supervised by the United States Probation Office for a prior firearm conviction.
On January 10, 2017, TERRY attempted to sell a vehicle to two people for $3,000.00. While driving the potential buyers to retrieve the money, the check engine light came on in the vehicle. After an examination of the car at AutoZone, the potential buyer advised TERRY that he did not want to purchase the vehicle because it had too many issues. Instead, of returning the man to his home, TERRY who was angry, drove the man and woman to a rural area in Vance County, stopped the car, pulled the male from the car and repeatedly hit him with a firearm. TERRY then pulled the female from the vehicle, and placed the pistol in her mouth. TERRY subsequently took the victim’s cellular telephone and $3,000 before leaving them both on the side of the road. The male victim was hospitalized as a result of the assault and required staples to close a laceration to his head. The victims reported the assault and robbery to law enforcement.
TERRY was arrested on April 3, 2017, by deputies with the United States Marshals Service based on a warrant issued for violating the conditions of his supervision. While making the arrest at TERRY’S girlfriend’s residence, officers observed his girlfriend’s 14-year old daughter with an odd bulge in her pants. A subsequent search of the juvenile revealed a .22 caliber Taurus semiautomatic firearm loaded with 9 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
Following his arrest on April 3, 2017, TERRY also was served with outstanding arrest warrants related to the assault and robbery of the two victims mentioned above. While detained at the Vance County Jail, TERRY encountered in the jail, one of the victims TERRY assaulted over the car incident. On April 6, 2017, while in custody, TERRY approached that individual and told him to change his statement. TERRY told him that he needed to meet with TERRY’s attorney and tell the attorney that TERRY did not pistol whip him, that they only got into a fight. The man refused because of the injuries TERRY inflicted on him. TERRY threatened him if he did not change his statement.
Following TERRY’s federal arrest, agents seized and subsequently executed a search warrant on TERRY’s cellular telephone. A review of the pictures on the phone revealed that TERRY had taken several “selfies,” or photographs of himself with a Smith and Wesson .223 caliber AR-15 semiautomatic firearm on April 2, 2017. The firearm had been reported stolen and subsequently was recovered on April 10, 2017, at a residence in Henderson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
In support of PSN, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Crime Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted this case.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce.
Terry Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that CHARLIE O’BRYANT TERRY, 33, of Henderson, North Carolina was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt to 240 months imprisonment, 24 months on a revocation of supervised release followed by 3 years’ supervised release after the term of imprisonment.
TERRY was named in a six-count Superseding Indictment on June 15, 2017. On September 25, 2017, TERRY pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. At the time of the offense to which he pled guilty, TERRY was actively being supervised by the United States Probation Office for a prior firearm conviction.
On January 10, 2017, TERRY attempted to sell a vehicle to two people for $3,000.00. While driving the potential buyers to retrieve the money, the check engine light came on in the vehicle. After an examination of the car at AutoZone, the potential buyer advised TERRY that he did not want to purchase the vehicle because it had too many issues. Instead, of returning the man to his home, TERRY who was angry, drove the man and woman to a rural area in Vance County, stopped the car, pulled the male from the car and repeatedly hit him with a firearm. TERRY then pulled the female from the vehicle, and placed the pistol in her mouth. TERRY subsequently took the victim’s cellular telephone and $3,000 before leaving them both on the side of the road. The male victim was hospitalized as a result of the assault and required staples to close a laceration to his head. The victims reported the assault and robbery to law enforcement.
TERRY was arrested on April 3, 2017, by deputies with the United States Marshals Service based on a warrant issued for violating the conditions of his supervision. While making the arrest at TERRY’S girlfriend’s residence, officers observed his girlfriend’s 14-year old daughter with an odd bulge in her pants. A subsequent search of the juvenile revealed a .22 caliber Taurus semiautomatic firearm loaded with 9 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
Following his arrest on April 3, 2017, TERRY also was served with outstanding arrest warrants related to the assault and robbery of the two victims mentioned above. While detained at the Vance County Jail, TERRY encountered in the jail, one of the victims TERRY assaulted over the car incident. On April 6, 2017, while in custody, TERRY approached that individual and told him to change his statement. TERRY told him that he needed to meet with TERRY’s attorney and tell the attorney that TERRY did not pistol whip him, that they only got into a fight. The man refused because of the injuries TERRY inflicted on him. TERRY threatened him if he did not change his statement.
Following TERRY’s federal arrest, agents seized and subsequently executed a search warrant on TERRY’s cellular telephone. A review of the pictures on the phone revealed that TERRY had taken several “selfies,” or photographs of himself with a Smith and Wesson .223 caliber AR-15 semiautomatic firearm on April 2, 2017. The firearm had been reported stolen and subsequently was recovered on April 10, 2017, at a residence in Henderson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
In support of PSN, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Crime Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted this case.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce.
Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime to Promote Community Safety
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Sgt. Marti Stewart, Henderson Police Department
Mark your calendars for the annual Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime to be held Tuesday, August 7, 2018, from 5 – 8 p.m. on Breckenridge Street, downtown Henderson, at the Henderson Police Department.
Hotdogs and event cups will be available while supplies last.
Community members check out the various booths at last year’s Night Out Against Crime event. (Photo courtesy the Henderson Police Department)
There will be presentations and displays by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, Henderson Fire Department, Vance County Fire and EMS, NC State Highway Patrol, Vance County Schools and many other agencies and organizations working together with the community to prevent crime and promote safety.
Rain date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Hosted by the Henderson Police Department and the National Night Out Against Crime Committee.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Garrison Provides Updates on Recent NC General Assembly Session
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy the June 2018 newsletter of Rep. Terry E. Garrison
The 2018 session of the NC General Assembly convened on May 16 and adjourned on June 29. The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on November 27, 2018.
This short session of the NC General Assembly included adjustments to the 2017-19 Biennium Budget and passage of a flurry of bills allowable under rules of the General Assembly including six bills placing constitutional amendments on the ballot for the upcoming midterm elections in November 2018.
Some major items on the agenda considered:
To stay up-to-date on NC General Assembly happenings, please visit the official website at www.ncleg.net
Families Living Violence Free to Offer Domestic Violence 101 Courses
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free
Register today for Domestic Violence 101
Domestic Violence 101 is a six-week course with a new class beginning Tuesday, August 7, 2018.
Classes will be held Tuesdays from 6 – 7 p.m. at the office of Families Living Violence Free, 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford.
Receive your DV 101 certificate upon completion of the six-week course.
Missed a class from a previous session? That’s okay! You can take the class you missed in the next DV 101 course and still earn your certificate.
Please call (919) 693-3579 to register.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Cooperative Extension with Jean Bell 07/05/18
/by CharleneThe Five Protective Factors
Parenting is not easy. It can be wonderful and stressful all at the same time. Combining the responsibilities of parenting with the responsibilities and stresses of daily life can become overwhelming at times. Parents who recognize the stresses and challenges along with the joys of parenting can work to reduce the stresses and problems and increase the fun and joy that come from raising the next generation.
Scientists have identified five protective factors, that when present in families and communities, can increase the health and well being of families. These factors serve as buffers from the stresses of life and identify ways that parents can find support and coping strategies. Research has also shown that in families where the five protective factors are present, lower incidence of child abuse and neglect occurs.
The first protective factor is parental resilience. Parents who are resilient can cope with the stresses of everyday life, as well as the occasional crisis. These parents have the flexibility and inner strength necessary to bounce back when things are not going well
The next protective factor is the parent’s knowledge of child development and their parenting skills.
When children are born, parents do not magically become knowledgeable about child development and have all of the skills they need. There is lots of parenting information out there. Parents can learn as their child grows. Children thrive when parents provide affection, respectful communication, listening, consistent rules and expectations and a safe environment.
The third protective factor is concrete support for parents. Just as parents need to learn about parenting and children, they also need support from others and the community to meet their basic needs. All families have basic needs for food, clothing, housing, health care, mental health care, and childcare. Parents who don’t have to worry about basic needs are better able to ensure the safety and well being of their children.
Another protective factor is social connections. Parents with a social network of emotionally supportive friends, family, neighbors and community find that it is easier to care for their children and themselves. Most parents need someone they can call on when they need a sympathetic listener, advice or support.
The last protective factor is the social and emotional competence of children. Children’s early experiences of being nurtured and developing a positive relationship with a caring adult affects all aspects of their behavior and development. Research shows that babies who receive affection and nurturing from parents have the best chance of healthy development. A child’s relationship with a consistent, caring adult in the early years is associated later in life with better grades in school, healthier behaviors, and an increased ability to cope with stress.
How do parents ensure that these five protective factors are present? When parents focus on improving their own coping skills, their resilience and ability to deal with problems increases. Taking the time to learn about child development by reading, attending parenting classes and talking to child development professionals will increase a parent’s knowledge, skills and confidence about raising children. Finding concrete support and social connections in the community will help parents have the services, supplies and emotional support they need to provide a stable and safe environment for their children. Parents who can increase their own skills and support systems will be able to give their children those positive early experiences that will set the child up for success in life.
There are lots of resources at Cooperative Extension to help parents achieve their goal of raising a successful child. We have information on child development, and also offer parenting classes to give parents tools to help with challenging child behaviors.
For more information, call Vance County Cooperative Extension at252-438-8188.
For more information about the five protective factors , visit the www.Preventchildabusenc.org website.
Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 07/03/18
/by CharleneHome and Garden Show 07/03/18
/by CharleneTown Talk 07/05/18
/by LarryNews 07/05/18
/by LarryGang Free Inc. Awarded $5K Grant for Community Service
/by Kelly BondurantGang Free Inc., a program focused on reducing crime in Vance County, was the recent recipient of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s Hometown Hero Award.
One nonprofit organization from each of the 16 counties in North Carolina served by the Coastal Credit Union was selected by the foundation’s committee members to receive this honor.
Melissa Elliott, recent candidate for Vance County Sheriff, founded Gang Free Inc. in 2009 to serve at-risk youth and adults. With the main focus on youth ages 5-17, the mission of the organization is to “educate and empower individuals to live a life liberated of crime through innovative progress and services.”
Melissa Elliott (left) and Dr. Jeanette Floyd (right) with Gang Free Inc. pose with the organization’s Hometown Hero Award. (Photo courtesy Melissa Elliott)
Led by Elliott and a group of approximately 10 consistent volunteers, Gang Free Inc., located at 940 County Home Rd., Henderson, currently serves 56 youth. “We are focused on prevention and we address the kids’ emotional and social needs,” Elliott said.
The majority of participants are students from Clarke Elementary School, LB Yancey Elementary School, Henderson Middle School and Southern Vance High School.
“We do so much with our kids,” said Elliott. “From literacy programs, bullying and gang prevention, mowing grass, cleaning up neighborhoods, helping the Henderson Optimist Club with their Christmas trees or picking produce from our own garden, we keep them engaged and involved in their community.”
According to Elliott, this level of community service and involvement keeps participants away from crime and gives them a sense of purpose and of responsibility to be good stewards of their community.
For their efforts to reduce crime in Vance County, Gang Free Inc. was awarded a $5,000 grant on May 24, 2018, at the Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s third-annual Power of Sharing Gala held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley.
“It was very meaningful to me to attend the gala and to see that there are other people out there trying to make a difference in their communities; there are other like-minded people,” said Elliott. “It was an incredible experience.”
Elliott plans to use the bulk of the grant for new programs, including Guiding Good Choices, a drug prevention program for ages 9-14 with a focus on opioid and heroin abuse.
In addition to the $5,000 grant to be used for operating expenses and programs, Gang Free Inc. received an IBM Impact Grant that allowed Elliott to attend the recently-held “Becoming a Leader of Change” training.
This leadership training helped Elliott identify effective change management skills, as well as provided insight on how to implement improvement processes within her organization.
While formal training sessions are important to Elliott and her growth as a leader, learning on the job and making changes as necessary is also an invaluable teacher. “I’m learning as I go and running this organization on faith.”
Elliott thanks her volunteers and community organizations for the “overwhelming support” that they have provided Gang Free Inc. “Dr. Jeanette Floyd, the educational director, is the glue and nails of this organization,” said Elliott. “This would not be possible without her and without our numerous individual volunteers and organizations.”
To learn more about Gang Free Inc. or to become a volunteer, please visit their website at www.gangfreeinc.org.