Charges include car thefts, credit card fraud, and misc. shootings
On August 12, sheriff Terry Johnson and other law enforcement officials raised concerns about the number of shootings that had recently taken place across the county in the weeks prior to their joint press conference.
The sheriff, in particular, laid part of the blame on what he considered to be the number of juveniles, some in gangs, who he believed were committing the seemingly random shootings, particularly in eastern areas of Burlington.
Since then, the sheriff’s office has arrested ten juveniles for various charges over the past three weeks.
Because they are underaged, law enforcement does not release their names, but Johnson outlined the seriousness of the charges each faces.
The newspaper is identifying each juvenile by a number, based on descriptions of the incidents and charges each faces. [Editor’s Note: Because of the anonymity accorded to the juvenile suspects, it is possible that some of the suspects, listed separately by incident by the newspaper, are actually the same person.]
Suspect No. 1 – This juvenile is alleged to have broken into vehicles in northern Alamance County (in the Kinnan Drive area) and used credit cards in Burlington. He is being charged with breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; 3 counts of obtaining property by false pretense; and 1 count of financial card theft.
Suspects No. 2 & 3 – These juveniles were allegedly involved together in one of the shooting cases along Spence Street in Burlington. Each faces 5 counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and 2 counts of injury to real property.
Suspects No. 4, 5, & 6 – These three juveniles are alleged to have been involved in some of the shootings and some of the vehicle breaking and entering cases in the Cairn Circle area near Glen Raven.
Each of the three is charged with: 10 counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; 2 counts of financial card theft; 4 counts of obtaining property by false pretense; and 1 count of larceny of a firearm.
Suspects No. 7 & 8 – These juveniles, a driver and passenger, were apprehended in a stolen vehicle leaving the scene of numerous motor vehicle breaking and entering cases in the area near Mallard Creek Drive, south of Graham, according to the sheriff’s office. More charges are expected, according to the sheriff’s office, but the initial charges are as follows:
Suspect No. 7 (driver): felony larceny of a motor vehicle; felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle; felony flee to elude arrest; and resist, obstruct, and delay.
Suspect No. 8 (passenger): felony larceny of a motor vehicle; felony possession; of a stole motor vehicle; and resist, obstruct, and delay.
Suspect No. 9 – Regarding a shooting along Artmis Lane, Mebane, one juvenile has been charged with: 1 count of shooting into an occupied dwelling; and 2 counts of injury to real property.
Suspect No. 10 – Broke into several cars, stole credit cards and used them in Burlington. He is being charged with: 5 counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; 2 counts of financial card theft; and 5 counts of obtaining property by false pretense.
At the time of the press conference, the sheriff indicated that there were probably 20 “persons of interest” that the department would be seeking to interview.
Sheriff Johnson said this week that he expects more arrests will be forthcoming and potentially additional charges for juveniles who have already been arrested.
