By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury couple have been indicted on drug and abuse charges after a search of their home in August revealed a 6-year-old was living in a drug den.
A grand jury indicted Ronald Eugene Burgess, 38, and Rhonda Dawn Burgess, 35, on a number of charges. The child was living in poor conditions, officials said last year.
During a search, detectives found 202 marijuana plants in various stages of growth inside and outside the residence. Detectives seized an additional 1/2 pound of dried marijuana, morphine, oxycodone, methylphenidate (Ritalin) and hydrocodone pills. Detectives also seized various items of drug paraphernalia used to ingest, cultivate and package marijuana. Also seized were two rifles and $1,400 in cash.
Rhonda Burgess was indicted on manufacture marijuana; possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled substance; three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled substance; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled substance and trafficking opium or heroin. All are felony charges.
Ronald Burgess was indicted on possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled substance; sell and deliver a controlled substance; possession with the intent to manufacture, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled substance; two counts of trafficking opium or heroin, and being a habitual felon. All are felony charges.
The grand jury also indicted the following:
Larry Dwayne Connor, first-degree rape and five counts of first-degree sex offense of a child, all felonies.
Spencer Police brought the original charges against Connor in early January.
James Gordon Easter Jr., felony attempted trafficking in opiates by sale and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities said he called the wrong number in December with the intent to sell someone 50 Hydrocodone pills and marijuana. The person he called contacted law enforcement, who obtained a search warrant.
Eric Lamont Graham, felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resist, obstruct or delay a law enforcement officer.
Graham is one of two people arrested during an undercover sting operation in November targeting drugs, prostitution and break-ins across East Spencer. Authorities said two crack-cocaine rocks were found in his pockets.
Benjamin Evans Harper, 23, counts of forgery of endorsement, all felonies. The charge is essentially the forging of a signature on a document.
Tion Reíl Hines, indecent liberties with a child, statutory rape/sex offense.
He was originally charged Nov. 7 after an investigation by the East Spencer Police Department found Hines had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl at his home.
Richard Wade Hinson Jr. and Dustin Reid Hinson, felony conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Both, who are related, were said to be involved in a November 2009 shooting at an apartment complex. An attempted robbery was reported, but police said no money was taken.
Robert Earl David Johniken, trafficking opium or heroin and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled substance, both felonies, and misdemeanor simple possession of a controlled substance.
In December Johniken was part of the Rowan County Sheriffís Office ěNaughty List,î through which they made a number of arrests during an undercover operation.
Micahel Odell Mitchell Jr., aka Mike O. Mitchell, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a weapon in an occupied dwelling/moving vehicle and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, all felonies.
East Spencer Police said Mitchell tried to rob a man in December at his East Henderson Street home. The man was shot during the attack. The victim knew Mitchell.
Tamika Yvette Oglesby, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana.
In December was apart of the Rowan County Sheriffís Office ěNaughty List,î through which they made a number of arrests during an undercover operation.
Anthony Pressley, breaking and entering, failure to register as a sex offender and larceny, all felonies.
In January he was arrested during a traffic stop in Cleveland and initially charged with failure to notify of address change by a registered sex offender.
Jeremy Alexander Shuping, felony breaking and entering. Authorities caught Shuping at a home in December that had just been broken into by someone. He told a deputy he and a friend were deer hunting near the victimís home.
Robert Luther Smith, five counts second-degree rape and one count second-degree sex offense, all felonies.
Authorities charged Smith, who they say is mentally challenged, in a joint investigation, in which a female victim reported her motherís boyfriend had unlawful sexual contact with her. The abuse began when she was 14 years old.
Christopher Alex Strachan, felony breaking and entering and felony possession of burglary tools.
Michael Lewis Dawson, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and possession of burglary tools.
In January, a witness saw the men make two trips into a building at a home in the 5000 block of Bringle Ferry Road, loading items into the trunk of their car.
Zaki Dukwane Torrence, second-degree kidnapping and attempted second-degree rape, both felonies.
Authorities said the alleged attempted rapes and kidnapping happened in the western part of the county.
Tiffany Michelle Upright, conspiring to traffic opium/heroin, two counts trafficking opium or heroin, all felonies.
Arrested along with four others following a two-month undercover narcotics investigation.
Jovan David Wash, felony robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Wash was charged in October 2006 with robbing an Eckerds.
Crystal Schenk Watkins, selling cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, three counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiring to traffic in cocaine, all felonies.
Kinedrick Jerome Watkins, selling cocaine, six counts of trafficking in cocaine, two counts possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, conspiring to traffic in cocaine and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled substance, all felonies.
This Cleveland couple was charged in December 2009 with selling more than $3,500 worth of cocaine to undercover agents over a two-month span.
Rashedia Monique Woodberry, possession of counterfeit instrument, two counts obtaining property by false pretenses.
Woodberry was arrested in July 2010 after police said she used a fake $20 bill at multiple food establishments.
Rashaad Lamar Young, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
Young and another man were arrested in June 2009 after authorities identified them as suspects in a robbery and beating.
The victim was beaten with a handgun and robbed at his North Main Street home.
Ricky Ray Bailes, two counts of trafficking opium or heroin, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling place for a controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance.
Bailes was on the Rowan County Sheriff Officeís 2010 ěNaughty List,î wanted on drug charges in late December after an undercover drug roundup.
Melvin Baity, fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, driving while license revoked, careless and reckless driving and speeding, 150 mph in a 65-mph zone.
Michael Lynn Beck, trafficking opium or heroin by possession, trafficking opium or heroin by sale, possession with intent to sell of deliver a controlled substance, selling a controlled substance, and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling place for a controlled substance.
Beck, of Spencer, was part of an undercover drug roundup that lasted several months and included the arrest of 15 people by the Rowan County Sheriffís Office.
Michael Booker Jr., two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance.
Salvatore Cerbone, one count of indecent liberties with a child, two counts of first-degree rape and other sex offenses.
Kevin Jamal Chawlk, selling or delivering cocaine and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance.
Chawlk, of Salisbury, was on the Rowan County Sheriff Officeís ěNaughty List,î and was arrested late December 2010.
Leland T. Corso, four counts of statutory rape/sex offense, two counts of indecent liberties with a child, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Cody Lee DeRouin, three counts of a crime against nature, disseminating obscene material, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Derouin, of Salisbury, was arrested Jan. 5 after an investigation by the sheriffís office found Derouin and two other men were accused of having sex with an underage girl. Detectives also found a videotape that showed the victim and one of the men having sex.
Danna Duganne, felony possession of a schedule I controlled substance.
Donald Donnell Fleming, failure to register as a sex offender and felony possession of cocaine.
Fleming, of Salisbury, was originally pulled over for a burned-out taillight, and a Salisbury police officer found he had failed to notify them of an address change, and officers also found two crack pipes and a small amount of cocaine in his car, authorities reported.
George Golliver, two counts of assault on a government official and malicious conduct by a prisoner.
Justin Hunter, two counts of statutory rape/sex offense.
Hunter was arrested Jan. 5 after an investigation by the sheriffís office found him and two other men were accused of having sex with an underage girl. Detectives also found a videotape that showed the victim and one of the men having sex.
Reginald Leach, malicious conduct by a prisoner.
Sidney Lefler, 18 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Lefler of Spencer was charged Dec. 17 after the sheriffís office and Spencer Police Department found child pornography on his home computer, authorities reported.
Glenn Richard Luisi III, crime against nature, disseminating obscene material, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and three counts of statutory rape/sex offense.
Luisi was arrested Jan. 5, 2011, after an investigation by the sheriffís office found him and two other men were accused of having sex with an underage girl. Detectives also found a videotape that showed the victim and one of the men having sex.
Katherine Reynolds, five counts of identity theft and felonious injury by vehicle, driving while impaired, no operatorís license and driving left of center.
Investigators said Reynolds had narcotics in her system at the time of a head-on collision in August. Police say she caused the collision.
Deborah Gay Rhodes, larceny of a motor vehicle and habitual impaired driving.
Rhodes of East Spencer was charged Jan. 29 after authorities say she took someoneís van in East Spencer.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.