Man charged with stealing rifle
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 23, 2016 9:57 AM
A Goldsboro man allegedly stole a man's rifle, sold it to Four Seasons Sports on Ash Street and was arrested for possessing stolen firearms and crack cocaine.
A lieutenant with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of a larceny that had just happened at 5280 U.S. 70 East on Wednesday afternoon.
The victim of the larceny told the lieutenant that John Wayne Merit, 57, of 5276 U.S. 70 East, had just stolen her boyfriend's hunting rifle while she was in the bathroom and came out to find Merit running away from the home with the rifle in hand.
According to a report on the incident, Merit jumped into his car and fled. Merit was found by Sgt. Doug Honeycutt.
According to a report, Merit had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident.
A search of the vehicle Merit was driving revealed .270 caliber ammunition, drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine, a report says. But the allegedly stolen firearm was not in the vehicle, and was found at Four Seasons Sports on Ash Street. Merit had reportedly sold the gun to the business for $25.
Merit was charged with possession of cocaine, larceny of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was given a $13,000 secured bond.