Man charged with 16 felonies
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on June 26, 2016 1:45 AM
A Pikeville man has been charged with 16 felonies in relation to several breaking and entering cases in Farmville and Wayne County.
Marcus Keont'a Lashley, 23, of 4269 U.S. 117 North, Pikeville, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts felony breaking and entering, two counts felony larceny, one count felony safecracking, one count felony conspiracy and two counts misdemeanor damage to personal property for incident that occurred in Farmville. Lashley was charged with four counts felony breaking and entering, three counts felony larceny after breaking and entering, two counts felony conspiracy to commit breaking and entering and one count felony injury to utility wires and fixtures for incidents in Wayne County.
Lashley was given a $100,000 secured bond for the charges in Farmville and an additional $100,000 secured bond for the Wayne County charges. He is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office began investigating several breaking and entering cases at the beginning of 2016 and developed Lashley as a suspect. In each incident, Lashley and several other unknown suspects allegedly would break in during the early morning hours by shattering a glass door of the business, taking backpacks inside and filling the bags with money and items from inside the business. Lashley and the unknown suspects would also readjust surveillance cameras around the businesses to conceal their actions.
Lashley and company allegedly attempted to break into Wild Indian Gun Co. on March 27. Other break-ins were reported at the Fast Way on U.S. 13 North on April 7, Saulston Food Mart on Wayne Memorial Drive on April 8 and Down East Furniture Company on U.S. 70 East on April 13.
Lashley was arrested after warrants were taken out on him this month by the Farmville Police Department and Wayne County sheriff's deputies began watching his residence.
On Wednesday, Lashley got into his car with several other people, drove away from his home and was then stopped by sheriff's deputies. He was arrested without incident, warrants for the cases in Farmville were served on him and then additional charges for the Wayne County cases were levied against Lashley on Thursday.
Capt. Richard Lewis with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the case is being investigated as part of a larger theft operation, and more arrests are pending.
"We have not identified the other people involved yet," Lewis said.
Anyone with information about who else might be involved in this theft operation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255 or text at 919-222-4230. Callers will remain anonymous and if your information leads to a felony arrest you will be given a cash reward for the information. Crime Stoppers gives cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to felony arrests. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, funded solely by private donations. To make a donation, contact the Goldsboro-Wayne Crime Stoppers Director Rick Sutton at 919-734-8177.