Statue thief sentenced
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on November 11, 2005 1:45 PM
The Goldsboro man who stole the base and pedestal of the 89-year-old Lady in the Park Statue has been sentenced to probation and restitution.
Charles Newsome, 52, of North Virginia Street pleaded guilty in Wayne County Superior Court to felony larceny. A charge of possession of stolen goods was dismissed as part of a plea arrangement.
Newsome was sentenced by Judge Jerry Braswell of Goldsboro to five to six months in prison.
The term was suspended on condition that Newsome serve 18 months of supervised probation, pay $1,500 in restitution, $260 to his court-appointed lawyer and $390.50 in court costs.
Newsome was credited with serving 32 days in jail until he could post a $10,000 secured bond.
The base and pedestal were stolen about May 15 from behind the Wayne County Museum at 116 N. William St. An official with the Wayne County Historical Association said the parts were found a few days later in a salvage yard, where they had been sold for $168.
When the theft was reported, Louis Marriner, the association's president, said most of the base and pedestal were recovered but several big chunks were missing, including an arm from a cherub and a part of the bowl.
Marriner said he thought the pieces were taken out of town and sold for scrap.
But Laura Alley, a temporary employee at the museum, called several salvage yards and found the pieces.
Marriner said the original statue that sat in Herman Park until about two years ago was worth about $75,000. It was donated in 1916 by the Weil family.