Author: byrontucker

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office held a graduation ceremony Tuesday, October 24, 2023 to honor twenty-two (22) graduates of the Fall 2023 Citizen Academy. Graduates along with family and friends enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by The Lamb’s Chapel in Burlington. Each Graduate received a ‘Certificate of Completion’ along with an ACSO Challenge Coin.

The class met each Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. beginning September 5, 2023 through October 24, 2023.

The ACSO Citizen Academy is an extension of the agency’s Community Engagement Initiative. The goal of the Academy is to provide insight about the job functions and responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office.

Topics covered include, Q&A with Sheriff Johnson, Special Response Team Demo, Taser Demonstration, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), Firearms Simulator, Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure, Ride Along with a Deputy and much more.

Citizen Academy is open to all Alamance County residents eighteen (18) and above. There are no costs to attend. Admission is on a first come basis after a satisfactory background check.

The next class convenes Tuesday, April 2^nd, 2024. To register, email: Sheriff.Academy@alamance-nc.com or pick up an application at the Sheriff’s Office, 109 S. Maple St., Graham, N.C., 27253

On Friday, October 20, 2023, Special Victims Unit (SVU) Investigators opened an investigation of a known registered sex offender residing at an unregistered location.

During the investigation, it was learned that the offender, Azalee Renee Hunnicutt, changed residency without notifying the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office as required by law.  

Ms. Hunnicutt was transported to the Alamance County Detention Center where she went before the Magistrate’s Office and received 48 hours hold prior to appearing before a judge who will set bond.

Name:             Azalee Renee Hunnicutt         W/F/38            1719 Parham Dr., Graham, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Fail To Register Sex Offender

Bond:              48hrs. Hold

On Monday, July 3, 2023, Special Victims Unit (SVU) Investigators were asked to re-open a case of alleged sexual assault which occurred in 2016. The caller was reported to be the victim who was thirteen (13) at the time of the alleged assault.

The case was previously closed due to lack of family cooperation with law enforcement and sexual assault survivor advocates.

The victim, after contacting SVU, stated a willingness to cooperate with the investigation. SVU Investigators began going through reports from 2016 and conducted interviews with the victim which were deemed to be consistent from the original discoveries. Witnesses were also interviewed and their stories remained consistent.

The victim again identified James Matthey Hardy II as the person who allegedly committed the offenses.

SVU Investigators completed a case review with the Alamance County District Attorney’s Office and took out warrants against Mr. Hardy.

Mr. Hardy was arrested in Rowan County on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. Mr. Hardy was later transferred to the Alamance County Detention Center where he remains.

Name:             James Matthew Hardy II   W/M/33   1940 Crawford Rd., Graham, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Indecent Liberties With A Minor

                        1ct: Felony Statutory Sex Offense With A Child Under Fifteen (15)

Bond:             $150,000 Secured

On Monday, March 27, 2023, Investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) began an investigation of known sex offender Charles Antonio Robinson. It was discovered that Mr. Robinson failed to comply with the rules and regulations of the N.C. Sex Offender Registry. 

Detectives obtained a warrant on Charles Antonio Robinson for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Mr. Robinson, whose whereabouts were unknown, was entered in the National Crime Information Center as wanted.

In mid-September, 2023, Mr. Robinson was located by the U.S. Marshalls Service in Maryland and extradited to Alamance County. Mr. Robinson was booked into the Alamance County Detention Center on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Name:    Charles Antonio Robinson   B/M/48   206 Fisher St., Burlington, N.C. (last known address)

Charge:  1ct: Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Bond:     $75,000 secured

On Saturday, July 29, 2023, Deputies began a fraud investigation which was reported by a resident in northern Alamance County. The victim reported numerous unauthorized ATM withdrawals after reviewing the bank statement.

Throughout the investigation, it was learned that the 89-year-old victim hired Mr. Mertice Eastwood to come to the victim’s residence for the purpose of car repairs.

Working with the victim’s bank, Detectives obtained camera footage from the ATM where the funds had been withdrawn. After reviewing the videos, Detectives positively identified Mr. Eastwood as the person making the unauthorized ATM withdrawals. In total, Mr. Eastwood had withdrawn $6,580 dollars from the victim’s account.

On Thursday, October 5, 2023, Mr. Eastwood was located and arrested. Mr. Eastwood was transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:             Mertice Bracher Eastwood Jr. W/M/41    1404 Lakeside Ave., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:         1 ct: Felony Larceny of a Financial Card, 1 ct: Felony Financial Card Fraud,

1 ct: Felony Identity Theft

Bond:              $40,000 Secured

On Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 7:38 p.m., Deputies responded to the 1100 block Terrell St., Mebane, N.C., in reference to a call of damage to property. On arrival, Deputies made contact with the caller who resides at this location. The caller reported that Markus Rogers, who had since left the residence, burst out the windows in her car after a domestic dispute. While Deputies were on-scene, the victim was on the phone with Mr. Rogers. Deputies were able to hear Mr. Rogers threaten to “shoot up” the victim’s residence and also run his vehicle through her house. Deputies immediately obtained warrants against Mr. Rogers for Communicating Threats and Damage to Property. Deputies began searching for Mr. Rogers.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., Deputies responded to Mr. Roger’s residence at 4375 Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Rd., Graham, N.C., after receiving information that he was there. Mr. Rogers fled from his residence on foot prior to Deputies arriving. Deputies obtained further information that Mr. Rogers was watching them from the wooded area near his home. Deputies communicated with Mr. Rogers several times via phone, but he refused to give himself up. During the incident, Mr. Rogers made statements that he was going to the school where the victim’s child is a student, and kill the child. Deputies then obtained further charges against Mr. Rogers for Communicating Threats of Mass Violence on Educational Property.

With the assistance of additional ACSO Deputies and Officers from other agencies, Mr. Rogers was found and taken into custody at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Mr. Rogers was located in the 2100-Block of Davis Rd. approximately a half-mile from his residence.

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Mebane Police Department, Graham Police Department, Elon Police Department, and the Gibsonville Police Department for their assistance with this investigation and search for Mr. Rogers.

Name:     Markus Antwain Rogers    B/M/42 4375 Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Rd. Graham, N.C. 

Charges:  1ct: Misdemeanor Injury to Personal Property, 1ct: Misdemeanor Communicating Threats,

1ct: Felony Communicating Threats of Mass Violence on Educational Property

Bond:       No bond domestic hold changed to $25,000 secured

                 Mr. Rogers remains in the Alamance County Detention Center

On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit (SVU) began an investigation of Sex Offender Violation. The SVU was notified that a known sex offender, Earl Thomas Wiley, failed to respond and register his certified verification letter within three days at the ACSO as pursuant to the N.C. Sex Offender Registry Laws.

Mr. Wiley was charged with 1 count Felony-Failure to Register Sex Offender. Mr. Wiley was arrested on Thursday, October 4, 2023 and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.  

Name:             Earl Thomas Wiley     B/M/69     5324 N NC Hwy 119, Mebane, N.C.

Charge:          1 ct: Felony Failure to Register Sex Offender

Bond:             $10,000 secured

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) received a cyber tip involving child sexual abuse material. The cyber tip alleged that an individual had uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files to the internet. The investigation led to a suspect living in Elon N.C.

During the investigation, SVU discovered that probable cause existed to charge Mr. Aamari Daeshawn Eubanks with Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. On Thursday, September 28, 2023, Investigators issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Eubanks.

Mr. Eubanks was arrested on Monday, October 2, 2023 and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.

This case remains under investigation with more charges possible.

Name:             Aamari Daeshawn Eubanks    B/M/272238 Wimbsley Dr. Elon, N.C.

Charge:          1 ct: Felony Failing to Register Sex Offender

Bond:              None

On Saturday, September 2, 2023, Investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU), began investigating a report of a 50B violation. 50B is short for Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Investigators learned that Kristen Michelle Apger allegedly made several attempts to contact the victim in the case which is against the orders of the 50B. Ms. Apger was served with a 50B on July 3, 2023 by the ACSO Special Victims Unit. The 50B remains active.

Investigators were told that Mrs. Apger called, text and contacted family members to speak with the victim. Mrs. Apger was made aware that a protection order was in place and was informed by the victim to stop harassing them.

Warrants were issued for Mrs. Apger, a former resident of Alamance Co., who now lives in Florida. Contact was made with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida who arrested Mrs. Apger for her outstanding warrants. Mrs. Apger will face extradition to Alamance County to answer the charges.

Defendant:    Kristen Michelle Apger    W/F/45 2383   Grove Valley Avenue Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Charges:       1 ct: Felony Stalking with Court Order in Place, 2 cts: Felony Domestic Violence Protective Order Violation

Bond:              None-Currently Held In Florida

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) began an investigation into a cyber tip regarding child sexual abuse material. According to information from the cyber tip, an individual allegedly uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files to the internet.

The investigation led to a suspect identified as Phillip Lane Buzzell who resides in northeast Alamance County.

As the investigation continued, Investigators were granted a search warrant and conducted a search of Mr. Buzzell’s residence. During the search, Investigators discovered and seized electronic devices.

After the completion of forensic examinations, Investigators found that Mr. Buzzell’s devices contained CSAM files. Mr. Buzzell was charged an turned himself on Wednesday, September 23, 2023 at the Alamance County Sheriff Office.

Name:             Phillip Lane Buzzell    W/M/35

Address:         Elon, N.C.

Charges:         4 cts:  Felony 2^nd Degree Exploitation of a Minor     

Bond:             $50,000 secured