Crime ring case scope broadens
Sheriff: 'There was talk of blowing up a school'
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - With another suspect in custody Saturday and new charges
filed against four others, investigators widened the scope of a probe they
say links stolen drugs and property, weapons, bomb-making devices, explosives,
attempted murder and last week's double homicide.
"There was talk of blowing up a school," Randolph County Sheriff
Litchard Hurley said at a Saturday night press conference detailing information
investigators have gathered so far.
No specific school was mentioned, but Hurley said investigators learned,
through an informant, that the group "had explosives to blow up a school."
"We'll keep digging," the sheriff said about the possibility
of more people facing charges and more crimes being uncovered in the probe.
William Roy Davis, 20, of 134 W. Presnell St., Asheboro, was arrested
early Saturday morning without incident, turning himself in to authorities
in the company of his father, and charged with numerous felony offenses.
He remains in Randolph County Jail under $1 million bond.
Four others, including Davis' wife, originally had $50,000 bonds which
were increased to $800,000 after other charges were added late Friday night.
"Some of these guys thought it was a joke," Hurley said about
initial charges brought against four suspects Friday. "But when their
bond increased to $800,000, they realized it was not a joke."
Thus far, authorities say, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office has linked
various members of the group specifically to the attempted murder of a woman
in May 2004, break-ins during the past month at both Randleman Drug and
Prevo Drug in Seagrove, a weapon recently stolen from Treasure World in
Asheboro and Tuesday's double homicide of two teens near Randleman. Another
individual has been charged in connection with the attempted murder and
two others in the double homicide.
The probe into the double homicide led investigators to the suspected
source of the weapons used in the crime and a possible suspect, William
Roy Davis, who was jailed twice last week and posted bond. "He got
out before we could talk to him," Hurley said.
Officers also learned that a possible indoor marijuana-growing operation
was housed at Davis' Presnell Street residence. Undercover agents discovered
Friday that people were moving items from the house, so three vehicles seen
leaving the house were stopped.
Two vehicles were stopped on Meadowbrook Road, between Pritchard and
Presnell streets. Officers found firearms and what they thought could be
possible explosive devices. The area was evacuated and Greensboro Police's
Hazardous Devises Team was called in, along with federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents.
Hurley confirmed Saturday night that explosives were found in one of
the vehicles, as well as at the Presnell Street house during a subsequent
search.
He said agents took the confiscated items to the Randolph County landfill,
where a hole had been dug. They tested four grenades and found one was explosive.
A variety of weapons was confiscated from the vehicles, which were owned
by the suspects or a relative. Sgt. Scott Stockner of the sheriff's office
vice unit, who headed up the search, confirmed Saturday night, during the
press conference, that the serial number of one of the guns matched one
that had been stolen from Treasure World. Lt. Gary Davis, who's heading
up the double homicide investigation, was also on hand for the press conference.
Hurley added that a search of the residence located one gun, "a
lot of ammunition," a bulletproof vest, large household appliances
like new stoves and washing machines still in crates and computer and camera
systems. There was also a price list for drugs with information that the
items could be delivered or picked up.
There was also an indoor marijuana growing system which Hurley described
as "the most elaborate I've seen ... a room built inside a room, with
oxygen tanks, fans and grow lights."
Officers also found: Rifle primers than can be used in bombs; a large
bag with metal parts which ATF agents told deputies could be used as scrap
metal in explosives which could tear someone "all to pieces";
along with a roll of fuses, grenade heads, a book on how to make a bomb,
an exploded pipe bomb, gun powder, switches, a flare launcher and a large
canister of fertilizer.
One of the vehicles stopped and searched Friday had a trunk full of prescription
drugs. Hurley said Saturday night authorities were uncertain about the value
of the drugs which he estimated at "tens of thousands of dollars worth."
The drugs have already been tied to two drug store break-ins - one at
Prevo Drug in Seagrove and two at Randleman Drug. In the second break-in,
which occurred between Jan. 8-10, Randleman Drug "was wiped out,"
according to Hurley. "They were cleaned out from A to Z."
Some of the drugs were described as the prescription narcotic OxyContin
which Stockner said was a "hot item."
Hurley described the five people arrested in connection with the Presnell
Street operation as having previously been involved in "a little something,
but not what you would call the type of criminal activity we're use to seeing
all the time."
The sheriff said there's "a possibility the feds will take the case;
if so, they're history. When they get through the federal system, they'll
be old when they get out. The ones in jail know they need to help us all
they can."
The five suspects, along with all their present charges, are:
* William Roy Davis, 20, of 134 W. Presnell St., Asheboro, following
his apprehension, was charged with felony trafficking in opium/heroin, felony
conspire to traffic in opium/heroin; felony possession with intent to sell
and deliver Schedule I controlled substance, felony maintain a dwelling
to keep a controlled substance (marijuana), felony manufacture marijuana,
felony possession of stolen goods, felony obtain property by false pretense,
felony continuing criminal enterprise and misdemeanor possession of Schedule
VI controlled substance (marijuana). He was placed in Randolph County Jail
under $1 million secured bond.
He had been jailed Thursday night on a variety of charges including carrying
a concealed weapon, expired/no inspection sticker, failure to wear seat
belt and a window tinting violation and was released on a $3,000 bond, according
to jail records.
On Friday morning, he was charged with felony aiding and abetting attempted
murder in connection with a May 29, 2004, machete attack on a woman found
on N.C. 134, south of Asheboro. He was released from jail that morning,
after posting a $50,000 secured bond.
* His wife, Kimberly Marie Davis, 21, 134 W. Presnell St., Asheboro,
was initially charged Friday with manufacturing marijuana, misdemeanor possession
of marijuana and felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled
substance; her bond was set at $50,000. Additional charges include felony
conspire to traffic in opium/heroin, felony trafficking in opium/heroin
and felony possession with intent to sell and deliver Schedule I controlled
substance. She remains in Randolph County Jail under an additional $750,000
secured bond.
Also charged were:
* Matthew Bascom Barker, 17, 1477 Randolph Tabernacle Road, Asheboro.
Initial charges included felony manufacturing marijuana, misdemeanor possession
of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of a firearm by a minor; bond was
set at $50,000. Additional charges include two counts felony trafficking
in opium/heroin, felony possession with intent to sell and deliver Schedule
I controlled substance and felony conspire to traffic in opium/heroin. He
remains in Randolph County Jail under an additional $750,000 secured bond.
* John McKinley Beeson, 19, 1388 Steed Road, Randleman. Initial charges
included felony manufacturing marijuana and misdemeanor possession of marijuana;
bond was set at $50,000. Additional charges include two counts felony trafficking
in opium/heroin and felony possession with intent to sell and deliver Schedule
I controlled substance. He remains in Randolph County Jail under an additional
$750,000 secured bond.
* Jeffrey Nicholas Hill, 20, 107 Kersey Drive, Archdale. Initial charges
included felony manufacturing marijuana and misdemeanor possession of marijuana;
bond was set at $50,000. Additional charges include two counts felony trafficking
in opium/heroin, felony possession with intent to sell and deliver Schedule
I controlled substance, felony maintain a vehicle/dwelling to keep a controlled
substance and felony conspire to traffic in Scheduled I controlled substance.
He remains in Randolph County Jail under an additional $750,000 secured
bond.
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