Public Records
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 9, 2006 2:00 AM
Man convicted of identity theft is arrested again
A Goldsboro man who was convicted in 2005 of numerous charges of financial identity fraud and was sentenced to probation has been arrested again by Wayne County sheriff's officers on similar charges.
Tarvaris Dion "Popcorn" Sutton, 26, of Newsome Street was charged last week with financial identity fraud. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $4,000 secured bond.
Detective Sgt. R. Thomas Flores Jr. said Sutton was working in 2005 as a dishwasher at a Goldsboro restaurant and was stealing information from customers' checks. Sutton and another person used the information to buy property over the Internet or by phone. Flores said the suspect stole about $8,000 from the victims' checking accounts.
Sutton was arrested in August 2005 and charged with numerous counts of financial identity fraud, including trafficking in stolen identities. He was convicted in March and placed on probation and electronic house arrest as a result of a plea bargain.
Flores then was notified of another case of identify theft. He developed information that Sutton was a suspect and contacted Sutton's probation officer, Joe Hackett, who said Sutton was working at the Lantern Inn in Goldsboro. The victim, Matthew Buebe, said he ate lunch frequently at the restaurant and paid for his meal with personal checks.
Flores informed Hackett of Sutton's previous method of stealing information. Hackett and Sutton then went to Sutton's home, and Hackett conducted a legal warrantless search. Hackett found key evidence in the bedroom, including the victim's name and banking information on a piece of paper.
Flores said additional charges are pending.
Gun charges
An 18-year-old man from Dudley was arrested Friday by Wayne County sheriff's detectives and charged with two felony crimes in connection with a break-in at the Neuse River Gun and Pawn Shop in Mar Mac.
Antione Logan Chestnut of Evelyn Drive was charged with possession of stolen goods and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond.
Detective Sgt. Mike Kabler said the arrest resulted from an ongoing investigation in the June 21 break-in and larceny from the store. He said more arrests are possible. Detective Sgt. Carl Lancaster assisted in the case.
Suspicious fire
Goldsboro police were asked to investigate a fire at 1114 Fourth St. after firefighters said the blaze was suspicious.
A window has been smashed and yellow curtains and a living room were damaged Friday. Damages were estimated at $1,575. The home was owned by Irene Whitehurst of Sunshine Road, Kenly.
Investigations
Goldsboro police are investigating these reports:
*About $1,442 worth of property was stolen between May 7 and Friday from a home in the 900 block of South Andrews Avenue, police said. The thief had entered through an un-locked window, the report said. The resident, Ryan Gardiner, who was moving, reported the theft of a drill set, a speaker box, an air compressor, a sofa, a love seat, a chair, a fish tank, a mattress, a microwave oven, dishes and a table.
*A thief inflicted about $75 in damages to break a van window and steal a $4 plastic fan, police said. Richard Worley of Greenville, S.C., said the break-in occurred between Thursday and Friday in the 1800 block of East Ash Street.