Woman accused of using late sister’s name to dodge prosecution

SALISBURY — A Granite Quarry woman is accused of using her late sister’s name to avoid criminal prosecution.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said deputies have obtained warrants for 54-year-old Connie Denese Hamilton on three counts of felony identity theft.

Authorities said Hamilton went by the name Deborah Hamilton Brown, who died Nov. 12. She was 53.

According to a Salisbury Post obituary, Hamilton is listed as Brown’s sister.

A probation officer saw the same obituary following Brown’s death, but contacted Rowan deputies when Brown’s photo didn’t match the name of his assigned probationer.

“The deceased was not the actual person on probation,”?a Sheriff’s Office report said.

Authorities also said several offenses charged against “Deborah Brown” and slated for district court were dismissed following Brown’s death, including expired inspection tag, expired registration and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators believe Hamilton may have accrued charges under both names.

Those charges were waived on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, records show.

The probation officer contacted the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 21. Warrants were issued from a Rowan County magistrate on Jan. 12.

Investigators ask anyone with information about the charges to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.