2
Year
The Daily Dispatch
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Review
Sunday, January 8, 2012
1864
196 Buffalo Mill Road, Kittrell, NC
BUFFALOE MILLING CO., INC MOSS’ CORN MEAL PRODUCTS 252-438-8637 ESTABLISHED
1881
The last reported murder of the year was a shooting death that took place on Vanco Mill Road Dec. 15. Lonnie Demon Yancey, 28, of 1628 Stewart Ave., Henderson, was shot several times at close range in the roadway where deputies recovered a blue 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
A variety of criminal activity erupts throughout Vance County P.O. Box 7001 (1724 Graham Avenue) Henderson, NC 27536
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS 252-492-2127
www.vcs.k12.nc.us
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1884
615 West 158 Bypass, Henderson
Rose Gin Lawn, Garden & Pet Center 252-492-1103 ESTABLISHED
1908
The year 2011 started off quiet on the violent crime front, with the first reported murder occurring in March. However, by year’s end, the numbers had mounted. According to local law enforcement agencies, seven homicides occurred in 2011 — five inside Henderson city limits and two more within Vance County. Arrests are pending in two of these cases. The first homicide victim of 2011 was an Oxford man who was fatally shot at an area adjacent to the parking lot of the Budget Host Inn on N. Garnett Street. Joseph Michael Harris, 54, was shot four times, according to autopsy reports. Harris had been staying at the Budget Host Inn. An arrest has not been made in the case. The last reported murder of the year was a shooting death that took place on Vanco Mill Road Dec. 15. Lonnie Demon Yancey, 28, of 1628 Stewart Ave., Henderson, was shot several times at close range in the roadway where deputies recovered a blue 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. A few day’s later, deputies charged Cavin Danyeil White, 30, of Henderson, with first-degree murder in the case. Other notable crime incidents included:
FBI raids result in two guilty pleas In December of 2010, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided several Henderson convenience stores — Dabney Pit Stop Inc., College Station Mart and Brothers Food Mart Inc. Subsequently, two defendants pleaded guilty in 2011 — one in February, the other in March — to specific charges out
of the larger federal case involving bogus food stamps, stolen cigarettes and the sale of Cathinone, or “Khat,” a controlled substance. In April, cases were dismissed against six named defendants from the Dec. 9 FBI raid, according to court records obtained by The Daily Dispatch. According to federal prosecutors, the Henderson defendants played various roles in the diversion of food stamp monies for their own use, the sale of stolen cigarettes and/or the sale of Cathinone. Prosecutors said the defendants and companies illegally secured purchases of EBT cards and PIN numbers in order to profit from their fraudulent redemption through balance transfer systems that the companies had been participants of. The indictment stated transactions that were tracked day-to-day in activities from mid-August through November 2010, encompassing approximately $8,600 of specifically tallied SNAP fund diversions. FBI Task Force Agent B.L. House stated in an earlier criminal complaint that a defendant received purportedly stolen tobacco products through a confidential informant. The focus of the raids was the service of search warrants at four convenience stores and a residential location by the FBI, with the assistance of the federal ATF and North Carolina state agents.
Raleigh Road assault Two defendants, Damien Elijah Trowbridge, 33, and Lashamika Monique Ragland, 21, were found guilty in Vance County District Court Aug. 25 of misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury for their part in dragging Eric Loznicka from his car and beating him after he accidentally struck a pedestrian on Raleigh Road March 19. Eric Loznicka had his day in court Aug. 25, witnessing two defendants who had assaulted him March 19 receive guilty verdicts. Damien Elijah Trowbridge, 33, and Lashamika Monique Ragland, 21, were found guilty in Vance County District Court of misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury for their part in dragging Loznicka from his car and beating him after he accidentally struck a pedestrian on Raleigh Road. Another defendant pleaded guilty. “All in all, I am very pleased with the judge’s decisions,” Loznicka said.
1020 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC
Wester Insurance Agency 252-438-8165 252-438-8099
ESTABLISHED
1914
304 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, NC
252-436-2700
ESTABLISHED
1925
566 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, NC
ESTABLISHED
1933
109 E. Spring Street Henderson, NC
FALKNER RENTAL PROPERTY
www.mariaparham.com
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252-438-4143
252-438-4213
A third defendant of that trial proceeding, Alexis L. Mulkey, 17, pleaded guilty rather than continue trial, and she asked for Loznicka to forgive her. The exchange resulted in tears, a hug and a request by Loznicka to drop the jail time for Mulkey. “She was very remorseful, she was in tears,” Loznicka said. “Of course, she is 17, she has no prior (offenses) of any sort. In thinking about it, I have a daughter who is 17. I also believe that to be forgiven you have to forgive.” The case stems from a nighttime beating incident that occurred at the scene of an accident involving Loznicka, 42. Loznicka was driving a gray, four-door sedan that struck Reuben Wright, 18, on Raleigh Road just south of the outdoor theater. Through the trial process, Loznicka and his wife demonstrated efforts to reach out to a couple defendants who they believed were approachable, including Carlton Ragland, 22, who Loznicka testified was not among those he remembered as taking part in the attack. Loznicka said that the dismissal of charges against another defendant, Less Ragland, 27, mystified him. Less Ragland had previously agreed to testify for the prosecution in exchange for the dismissal of the case against him. After providing identification of several fellow defendants, Less Ragland said Loznicka misidentified him as an attacker. The judge handed down a sentence of 100 days to serve against Trowbridge, sending him back to jail for another 33 days of active time following credit for 67 days in jail. Lashamika Ragland received 65 days to serve, with no credit for time served. Loznicka said he didn’t reach out to the defendants who would not acknowledge their guilt in the attack. “They knew of their involvement, and I know what happened,” he said. “They lied about it. If they can’t be honest with themselves, I figured I would let the law hand down what it would.” Two more defendants, Lonnie Jack Hargrove, 19, and Avone Fouch, 30, pleaded guilty in the assault, with Fouch getting a 150-day active sentence to serve and Hargrove receiving 60 days suspended with eight to serve. “All in all, I am very pleased with the judge’s decisions,” Loznicka said.
Please see CRIME, page 3