Couple charged with taking guns, ammunition from Salisbury home

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 9, 2013

Authorities have charged a Webb Road couple with taking guns and ammunition from a Hurley School Road home.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Russell Lee Samples, 40, of the 400 block of Webb Road, Salisbury, with breaking and entering a building, larceny and larceny of a firearm, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor communicating threats. Also charged was Penny Richardson Monroe, 36, also of the 400 block of Webb Road, with breaking and entering, larceny, weapons violations and larceny of a firearm, all felonies.
The victim told deputies when he arrived home Wednesday that Samples and Monroe were at his home. Samples was coming out of his house and Monroe was standing in his carport, a report said.
It appeared the victim knew who Monroe was and asked her how she got into his house. She told him the door was open, a report said.
Russell told the victim his car ran out of gas, so the victim gave Monroe a ride, leaving Russell at his home. The couple put gas in the car and when the victim went inside the house, he found a shotgun, pistol and a change jar were missing. He called Monroe and told her to bring the items back to him. She told the victim she’d return the items, but after waiting nearly half an hour, the victim called authorities.
Monroe asked the victim to meet her at a barbecue restaurant and said that the shotgun had been hidden on the back porch. The couple’s vehicle was found at the barbecue restaurant, a report said, but the two were not in it. The two were arrested at North Main Street in Cleveland and charged.
Samples was given a $100,000 secured bond and Monroe was given a $25,000 secured bond. Both Samples and Monroe remain in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Samples has been convicted of misdemeanor larceny and other misdemeanor offenses. Monroe has been convicted of trespassing, simple assault, resisting an officer, possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon and driving while impaired.