Murder Conviction in Granville County

Trial in Granville County Superior Court leads to Murder Conviction

Oxford, NC– Granville County Criminal Superior Court was held during the week of October 3, 2016.  Superior Court Judge G. Wayne Abernathy presided during the session.  The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison S. Capps and Michael W. Putney, Jr.

The primary focus of the week-long session was the trial of State of North Carolina vs. Rotonya Russell.  Mrs. Russell was charged with the Second Degree Murder of her husband, Carlos Russell, Sr. on June 11, 2014, at their home on Belltown Road.  Mrs. Russell, the defendant, was represented by Keith Bishop of the Durham County Bar.  At the close of all evidence and arguments of counsel, the jury convicted Mrs. Russell as charged.  Judge Abernathy sentenced Mrs. Russell to an active sentence of 148 to 190 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction.

This case was investigated by Detective Todd Wilkins and officers from the Granville County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Brin Wilkins.

(Official Press Release from District Attorney Mike Waters)

Home and Garden Show 10/11/16

Vance County Cancels School for students on Election Day

The Vance County Board of Education during its meeting Monday night approved the rescheduling of Tuesday, November 8, which is National Election Day, to a mandatory teacher workday with no school for students. It was originally scheduled as a regular school day.

Five of our schools, New Hope, L.B. Yancey, E.O. Young, Henderson Middle and Northern Vance High, are used as voting sites. It was the opinion of the board and school system administrators that with the expected large turnout for the election the day would be especially disruptive at these five schools, if it would have been a regular school day.

With the board’s action, no students in Vance County Schools will attend school on that day. However, all school system employees will be working.

Town Talk 10/11/16

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 10/11/16

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Arrest

Henderson Police Department Press Release

On Sunday, October 9, 2016, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit executed a search warrant at 1218 Toppleman Street, Henderson.  During the search, officers located and seized 239 bindles of heroin as well as 2.6 grams of marijuana.hpd-raheem-debnam-100916

Raheem Debnam, 25, 1218 Toppleman Street, Henderson was charged with the following offenses:  Trafficking heroin by manufacture, trafficking heroin by possession, maintaining a dwelling for keeping a controlled substance, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver heroin.

Debnam was placed in the Vance County Jail after failing to post a 100,000.00 secured bond.  A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Vance County District Court on October 24, 2016.

Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow

News 10/11/16

Town Talk 10/10/16

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 10/10/16

News 10/10/16