On June 11, 2021, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to Brucewood Road in reference to a home invasion in progress. The suspects left the residence and were pursued by one of the victims and then a deputy. The suspects ended up wrecking their vehicle in the area of Viewmont Drive and then fled the scene. 

Once a deputy arrived at the residence, two females stated that they were threatened by three males with guns who demanded to know where the money, drugs, and jewelry were. The females were then told to lie face down on the bed while another female escaped unnoticed, went outside, and called 911. 

During the course of the investigation, the suspects were identified. In addition, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for Luke Lloyd Clark’s property in which he was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of stolen property, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Charles Lacy Childress Jr.  
4645 Tangle Ridge Trail, Apt. 98, Burlington
W/M/32
Charges:
First Degree Burglary
Robbery with a Firearm
Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon
Bond: $100,000Daniel Ray Lineberry 
2335 Old 87 Highway, Elon
W/M/36
Charges:
First Degree Burglary
Robbery with a Firearm
Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon
Bond: $75,000

Stephen Clay Eastwood 
7908 Oak Grove Church Road, Liberty
W/M/36
Charges: 
First Degree Burglary
Aid & Abet Armed Robbery
Bond: $40,000

Luke Lloyd Clark 
5781 Thompson Mill Road, Graham
W/M/37
Charges:
Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery
2 counts: Possession of Stolen Property
Carrying a Concealed Weapon
Bond: $71,000   

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office is still attempting to locate another suspect, Wayne Thomasson, who has been charged with aiding and abetting an armed robbery. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office at 336-570-6300 to speak with a member of the Criminal Investigation Division or report anonymously by calling Alamance County Crime Stoppers at 336-229-7100 or by downloading the mobile app, P3Tips.

On Monday, June 14, 2021, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle with a broken tail light that was accelerating at a high rate of speed on Belmont Street. The Sheriff’s Office pursued the vehicle which continued to flee cutting through a grassy area between apartment buildings. The driver ended up exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot. He later stopped behind another vehicle and complied with law enforcement.

The suspect, Ryan Hester, was arrested and charged with a felony for fleeing to elude, DWLR impaired revocation, and possession of a synthetic cannabinoid. 

RYAN LAMAR HESTER
B/M/28
1005 RICHMOND, BURLINGTON, NC
CHARGES: 
F-FLEE/ELUDE ARREST W/MV 
F-FEL POSS SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID
T-DWLR IMPAIRED REV

On May 31, 2021, at approximately 12:20 a.m., the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to Green Level Church Road in reference to an armed home invasion that occurred the previous day. Occupants of the residence stated that four masked individuals came through a side door that was unlocked. Two of the subjects were armed, and they proceeded to take video games and an Xbox controller. 

After an investigation, Mr. Semaj Wright was charged and arrested on June 9, 2021. 

Semaj Rashawn Wright
B/M/21
325 Mason Trc. Burlington NC
Charges: 
First Degree Burglary
Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
Obtaining Property by False Pretense
$25,000 secured bond 

On Sunday, June 6, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on Burch Bridge Road in Burlington, NC in reference to a larceny. The owner recently had a company come to clean the residence, and two rings and a small amount of cash went missing. One of the employees, Ms. Rosario Gonzalez, admitted to taking the rings and volunteered to return them to the owner. After they were returned, the owner decided to press charges.

Ms. Gonzalez was charged with two felonies for larceny and given a $2500 unsecured bond. 

ROSARIO GONZALEZ
170 SPOON DRIVE, BURLINGTON, NC 27217
U/F/28
CHARGES: 
F-FELONY LARCENY
F-FELONY LARCENY
BOND: $2500 Unsecured

On April 25, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Spring Friends Meeting Church in reference to damaged property. Upon entering, there were ashes and burn marks that caused damage to the floor of the sanctuary. No one was identified as a suspect at that time. 

On May 10, detectives were informed of additional items that were found on the driveway of the church on April 25. Items identified Nickie Nicole Brewer as being on the property of the church that evening. After further investigation, Ms. Brewer was interviewed and then transported to the Alamance County Detention Center where she was given a $10,000 unsecured bond and a $15,000 secured bond for outstanding order for arrests and probation violations. 

Alamance County Sheriff’s Office detectives are still attempting to locate Mr. Richard East who may have accompanied Ms. Brewer to the Spring Friends Meeting Church on April 25. Anyone with information is asked to call the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office at 336-570-6300 to speak with a member of the Criminal Investigation Division.

NICKIE NICOLE BREWER
719 E MAIN ST
HAW RIVER, NC
W/F/33
CHARGE:
F-BREAK/ENTER PLACE OF WORSHIP
F-BURN CHURCH/RELIGIOUS BLDG
$10,000 Unsecured Bond
$15,000 Secured Bond

On Friday, February 5, 2021, around 9:30 a.m., members of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation Team opened an undercover peer-to-peer file sharing investigation involving an individual offering to participate in dissemination of child sexual abuse materials (previously known as child pornography). This investigation was initiated after finding that a person offered to share with us illicit materials of child sexual abuse through a file sharing network.
 
The suspect’s IP address was obtained, and an administrative subpoena was submitted. At the end of May, investigators received information back from the subpoena which indicated that the IP address belonged to Christopher Earnest Stefan who lives at 3719 S NC Hwy 119 in Haw River.
 
A search warrant was obtained for his home along with any outbuildings on his property. On June 3, 2021, members of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation Team and Special Victim’s Unit executed the search warrant. After searching the house and outbuildings, numerous files of child sex abuse materials were found on Mr. Stefan’s computers. Officers also found homemade gun suppressors and machines used to make them. A short barrel rifle with a suppressor attached to it was found in Mr. Stefan’s home along with a small amount of Cocaine. Through further investigation, it was also discovered that Mr. Stefan had been making and selling suppressors online.
 
An interview was conducted with Mr. Stefan, and he admitted to possessing numerous files of child sex abuse materials and that he made and sold suppressors. Investigators viewed six files out of hundreds that Mr. Stefan possessed on one of many external hard drives onsite. ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) agents were requested to help with the investigation of manufacturing and selling of suppressors and altered firearms. Mr. Stefan also admitted to filming young girls at a water park in Tennessee and the splash pad in downtown Mebane.
 
Mr. Stefan was charged with six counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Weapon of Mass Destruction, and three counts of Manufacturing Weapons of Mass Destruction. Mr. Stefan went before Magistrate Rogers and received a $75,000 secured bond.

Due to the amount of forensic evidence collected, this case is ongoing and additional charges are possible. Anyone with information is asked to call the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office to speak with a member of the Human Exploitation Team or the Special Victims Unit at 336-570-6300.

Christopher Earnest Stefan
3719 S. NC Hwy 119, Haw River, NC
W/M/45
Charges: 
(3) F Manufacturing Weapons of Mass Destruction
(6) F Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
F Possession of Cocaine
F Possession Weapon of Mass Destruction
Bond: $75,000 secured 

On Thursday, May 27, 2021, North Carolina Registered Sex Offender George Thomas Rickards was charged with two violations of the North Carolina Sex Offenders Registry.  Investigators with the Human Exploitation Team were investigating another incident, when the violations were found.
 
The violations are two counts of failure to inform of new/changes to online identifiers. Once these violations were identified, arrest warrants were secured, and Mr. Rickards was subsequently taken into custody.
 
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office (336-570-6300) to speak with a member of the Human Exploitation Team.

George Thomas Rickards
White / Male / 52
2168 Roney Lineberry Rd. Lot 3, Burlington, NC
Charges:
F-FAIL INFORM OF NEW/CHANGES TO ONLINE ID
F-FAIL INFORM OF NEW/CHANGES TO ONLINE ID 
Bond: $10,000.00 unsecured
 

On Saturday, May 22, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on S. NC Highway 87. The driver, Paul Brandon Engle, was driving with a suspended driver’s license. When asked, Mr. Engle gave consent for deputies to search his vehicle. The search yielded a glass smoking device and two small bags of a crystal-like substance. 

On June 5, 2021, Mr. Engle was currently incarcerated at the Alamance County Detention Center where he was charged with Possession of a Schedule II substance along with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia based on the traffic stop which took place on May 22, 2021.

PAUL BRANDON ENGLE
513 ELLINGTON DR., GRAHAM, NC
W/M/36
CHARGES: 
F-FELONY POSSESSION SCH II CS
M-POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
BOND: $1,000 Unsecured 

On June 4, 2021, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on S. NC Hwy 87 in Graham. The passenger, Carmen Lee Ward, surrendered a digital scale which was in her pocket, and deputies observed a substance believed to be methamphetamine in plain view near her seat in the vehicle. A search revealed approximately 19.49 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a concealed firearm which was located and seized.
 
Carmen Lee Ward
W/F/32 
3345 Pond Rd, Lot 16, Burlington, NC 27215
Charges:
F-POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE
M-POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 
Bond: $10,000 secured bond

All Alamance County Sheriff’s Office press releases and updated information are located at https://www.alamance-nc.com/sheriff/news/. 

On April 30, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a larceny involving a stolen snowmobile. After an investigation, Heather Ingerick was charged with (F) Breaking and Entering and (F) Larceny after Breaking and Entering and given a $10,000 unsecured bond. Nicholas Welborn was also charged with (F) Breaking and Entering, (F) Larceny after Breaking and Entering, and two OFAs. He was given a $7,000 secured bond.