Tag Archive for: #DAMIKEWATERS

Electronic Compliance and Dismissal System For Certain Traffic Violations

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DA Mike Waters – ecadpressrelease

Electronic Compliance and Dismissal (ECAD) quicker and more efficient for citizens

Oxford, N.C.- Citizens of Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren Counties can now easily request dismissal of certain traffic violations online with the launch of the new Electronic Compliance and Dismissal (ECAD) system. The application delivers a modern and user friendly experience to quickly process traffic violations online without having to appear in court.

“The online dismissal system is quicker and easier for citizens and provides immediate benefits to our courts,” said District Attorney Mike Waters. “Citizens are able to go online at home without having to miss work or wait in line, while saving time and resources of our district attorneys and court staff to process cases.”

Following Chief Justice Mark Martin’s vision for modernizing court technology systems statewide, ECAD was designed to reduce foot traffic in courthouses across the state while allowing the public a fast, convenient way to request dismissal for certain traffic violations online. The efficient, user-friendly system also benefits district attorneys by dramatically reducing the time needed to review and process dismissals of minor traffic cases.

“Online dismissals and services are changing the way the public does business with our courts,” said Judge Marion Warren, director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. “This modern court technology is more efficient and convenient to process a significant portion of traffic cases online and not have to stand in line at the courthouse.”

Prior to ECAD, citizens had to appear in court and visit the courthouse to request dismissal. In 2015, over 220,000 cases with ECAD eligible offenses were dismissed in North Carolina. This represents a significant portion of the traffic cases handled in our state and underscores the importance and convenience for the public. There is no cost associated with requesting dismissal of a case online through ECAD, and the system is available 24/7.

The system was funded by S.L. 2015-241 (HB 97) in September 2015 and work on the system began in October. ECAD was piloted beginning in May 2016, and is now available in all 100 counties statewide as of July. New language will be added to traffic citations statewide to inform the general public about ECAD and the courts’ online services available at onlineservices.NCcourts.org.

The following offenses are the only offenses eligible for dismissal/disposition through ECAD:
No Operator’s License
Failure to carry a valid driver’s license
Expired operator’s license
Expire/no inspection
OR/allow registration plate not display
Drive/allow MV no registration
Canceled/revoked/suspended certificate/tag
Expired registration card/tag

Citizens who have received a traffic citation for any of the above referenced offenses, and are in compliance and seeking a dismissal through ECAD, can go to onlineservices.NCcourts.org. They will need their citation number, which is located at the top of their ticket, and a valid address. If these charges are attached to a moving violation, a court appearance is still required.

Warren County Criminal Superior Trial Court

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(Full Press Release from Mike Waters)

Warrenton, NC- Warren County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held the week of July 11, 2016.  The Honorable Henry W. Hight, Jr., Resident Superior Court Judge, presided for the session.  District Attorney Michael D. Waters along with Assistant District Attorneys Onica F. Fuller and Mark L. Gregory appeared on behalf of the State of North Carolina.

Luchano Johnson was convicted of Second Degree Murder in the death of Daniel Martinez. Mr. Martinez was murdered in his home on October 11, 2014, in an attempted robbery. Mr. Johnson’s sentencing was continued until after the trial and disposition of Rance Richardson’s case in September 2016. This case was investigated by the NC State Bureau of Investigation and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Tywan Ali Williams was convicted of Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Felony Carrying a Concealed Gun, Driving While Licensed Revoked along with other related traffic matters and received an active sentence of 19 to 32 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC). These cases were investigated by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Warrenton Police Department.

Jerry Warren Pendergrass was convicted of a Felony Domestic Violence Protective Order Violation and Misdemeanor Assault Inflicting Serious Injury. He received an active sentence of 16 to 29 months in the DAC. This sentence is to be served at the expiration of the sentence that he is currently serving. This case was investigated by the Warren County Sheriffs Office.

Reginald Southerland was convicted of Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and received an active sentence of 26 to 41 months in the DAC. This case was investigated by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

James Ayscue was convicted of Misdemeanor Sexual Battery and received a suspended sentence of 150 days. Mr. Ayscue was placed on supervised probation for 24 months and was ordered to register as a sex offender. He was also ordered not to have any contact with any minor under the age of 18 without an adult over the age of 21 present. This case was investigated by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Richard Newman was convicted of Misdemeanor Assault Inflicting Serious Injury and received an active sentence of 120 days in a Misdemeanor Confinement Facility. This case was investigated by the Warren County Sheriffs Office.

Vance County Criminal Superior Trial Court

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(Full Press Release from Mike Waters)

Vance County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held during the week of June 27, 2016. The Honorable Cy A. Grant, Sr., Senior Resident Superior Court Judge from Judicial District 6B, presided over the session.

Cassandra Ewing was convicted of Driving While Impaired and received an active sentence of 18 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC).

Bruce Collins was convicted of Common Law Robbery and Assault Inflicting Serious Injury and received an active sentence of 17 to 30 months in the DAC.

Thomas Mudd was convicted of Felony Larceny from the Person and received an active sentence of 5 to 15 months in the DAC. Mr. Mudd’s sentence was suspended for 18 months of supervised probation after he serves 45 days in jail.

John Hester was convicted of three counts of Felony Uttering a Forged Check and received a sentence of 6 to 17 months in the DAC. Mr. Hester’s sentence was suspended for 24 months of supervised probation after he serves 90 days in jail.

All of the cases above were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey, William J. Williamson and Stephen T. Gheen.

Vance County Criminal Superior Case Management Court

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Full Press Release

Henderson, NC- Vance County Criminal Superior Case Management Court was held during the week of February 22,2016. The Honorable Donald W. Stephens, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge from Wake County, presided over the session. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Pelfrey, Bill Williamson and Steve Gheen.

The following cases were disposed of by plea agreement during the session:

David Perdue pleaded guilty to Felony Assault on a Handicapped Person and received an active sentence of 13 to 25 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC), which was suspended for 18 months of supervised probation.

Terrick Verner pleaded guilty to Common law Robbery and received an active sentence of 12 to 24 months in the DAC, suspended for 24 months of supervised probation.

Daniel Wells pleaded guilty to Felony Fleeing to Elude Arrest and larceny of a Motor Vehicle and received an active sentence of 10 to 21 months in the DAC. Mr. Wells also had a probation violation case which was revoked and his probationary sentence of 16 to 29 months was activated.

Takisha Durham pleaded guilty to Misdemeanor Common law Uttering and received an active sentence of 45 days in the Vance County Jail, suspended for 18 months of supervised probation.

Cody Creech pleaded guilty to Felony Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and received an active sentence of 11 to 23 months in the DAC.

Deshawn Hargrove pleaded guilty to Felony Sex Offender Use Social Website and received an active sentence of 9 to 20 months in the DAC. Mr. Hargrove also had a probation violation case which was revoked and his probationary sentence of 17 to 30 months was activated.

Dustin Matthews pleaded guilty to Felony Possession of Stolen Goods, Obtaining Property by False Pretenses, and larceny and received an active sentence of 8 to 19 months in the DAC.

Lorenzo Terry pleaded guilty to Felony Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and received an active sentence of 26 to 41 months in the DAC. All of the cases mentioned above were investigated by officers with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Jonathan Rhodes pleaded guilty to Felony Possess/Distribute Meth Precursor and received and active sentence of 21 to 35 months in the DAC. Mr. Rhodes also had a probation violation case which was revoked and his probationary sentence of 9 to 20 months was activated. This case was investigated by Officer M. Jackson of the Henderson Police Department.

Warren and Granville Legal Press Releases

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Warren 02-23-16 Press Release

Granville 02-26-16 Press Release

 

Warrenton, NC – Warren County Superior Case Management Court was held Monday, February 22, 2016. The Honorable Donald W. Stephens was the Superior Court Judge presiding over this session of Court. Bond motions were held in the cases of State of North Carolina vs. Darren Alston, State of North Carolina vs. Marquis M. Davis and State of North Carolina vs. Montrell Davis. These defendants are each charged with First Degree Murder arising out of the death of Michael Pressley on August 9,2015. After hearing from Assistant District Attorney Onica Fuller, and the attorneys for each of the defendants, bond was set at $1,000,000.00 secured in the cases of State of North Carolina vs. Marquis M. Davis and Montrell Davis. Defendant Darren A. Alston did not ask to be heard on bond at this time. The fourth defendant charged, Kadeem J. Grooms, was not in court on February 22, 2016, because his attorney was unavailable. A fifth defendant, Keshan Goode, is charged with Felony Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder, and his bond was set at $50,000.00 secured.

 

Oxford, NC – Granville County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held during the week of February 22, 2016. The Honorable W. Osmond Smith, III presided over the week long session. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Capps, Tasha Gardner and Mike Putney.

Davey Allen pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder in the death of Suzy Hester. Ms. Hester was the nighttime caregiver for Mr. Allen’s grandmother who was an invalid. Mr. Allen entered his grandmother’s home on the evening of October 5,2013, and stabbed Ms. Hester multiple times. Judge Smith sentenced Mr. Allen to 365 to 450 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC). This case was investigated by the Oxford Police Department and was prepared for trial by Assistant District Attorneys Tasha Gardner and Allison Capps.

After Judge Smith declared that he was capable of proceeding to trial, Jose Dominguez-Lopez plead guilty to Second Degree Sex Offense. Dominguez-Lopez received an active sentence of 78 months minimum to 148 months maximum in DAC. Dominguez-Lopez was charged after he assaulted a woman on Westbourne Drive in Creedmoor. After a short man-hunt, Dominguez-Lopez was apprehended by officers of the Creedmoor Police Department while hiding in a shed on nearby Sam Moss Hayes Road.

Tyre Burnette pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. Burnette received an active sentence of 28 months minimum to 43 months maximum in DAC. Burnette and a co-defendant, Anthony Mann, were involved in the beating of Kedric Hester on Otho Mangum Road. Anthony Mann also pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, as well as, various drug and weapon charges. Mann received an active sentence of 18-31 months in DAC. Detectives from the Granville County Sheriffs Office investigated all
of these cases.

Thurston Darius Bobbitt pleaded guilty to Attempted Common Law Robbery and Felony Fleeing to Elude an Officer. Bobbitt received an active sentence of 16 months minimum to 38 months maximum in DAC. The Attempted Common Law Robbery charge arose from the attempted robbery of the Shell Station located at 3901 Oxford Loop Road on September 16, 2014, and was investigated by detectives of the Oxford Police Department. The Fleeing to Elude an Officer charge arose from a high speed chase that began in the city limits of Oxford and ended at Wilton Elementary School on February 2, 2016. The chase involved officers from Oxford Police Department and The Granville County Sheriffs Office.

Phillip Markunas pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. On September 9,2014, the United States Marshall Service, Eastern District of North Carolina, Violent Fugitive Task Force assisted the Granville County Sheriff’s Office with verifying registration compliance of all registered sex offenders in Granville County. Upon search of the camper that Markunas resided in, officers recovered several firearms and knives. Markunas was previously convicted of Indecent Liberties with a child on December 2, 2013.

James Tunstall pleaded guilty to Felonious Possession of Cocaine. Tunstall received an active sentence of 6 months minimum to 17 months maximum in DAC. Officers of Oxford Police Department executed a traffic stop of the vehicle Tunstall was driving on October 13, 2014. In plain view was an open container of alcohol. A further search of the vehicle yielded illegal controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.

Tiffany Thomas pleaded gUilty to Habitual Misdemeanor Larceny. Thomas received a minimum of 8 months to a maximum of 19 months suspended with supervised probation. As a condition of probation, she was ordered to serve a 60 day sentence. On May 28, 2015, Thomas entered the Family Dollar located at 117 Hilltop Village, shortly before the store was to close. After walking around with a tote and filling it with various household items, Thomas left the store without paying for the items. Officers of the Oxford Police Department responded and Thomas was immediately apprehended.

“Office Hours” for Traffic Cases

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District Attorney Mike Waters has made the following announcement on his District Attorney Facebook Page.

“An Assistant District Attorney from our office will be available in the Vance County Clerk of Superior Court’s office on Friday, January 8, 2016, from 2:00 – 4:30 pm, to address traffic cases set for Disposition Court on January 21, 2016, in Vance County. Please keep in mind that our office cannot give legal advice. However, we hope that these “office hours” will offer another opportunity for citizens to address their traffic citations at their convenience.”

Waters told WIZS News this is an effort to help folks avoid long lines the morning of court.