Two people convicted as habitual felons

Published 4:23 pm Wednesday, July 5, 2017

SALISBURY — Two people were convicted this week in Rowan County Superior Court of being habitual felons. Both cases involved stolen goods.

Melanie Janine Leach of Salisbury was convicted of felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods. She was sentenced to 67 months to 93 months in prison.

Randy Trent Power of Kannapolis was convicted of felony possession of stolen goods, felony breaking andentering, and felony larceny after breaking and entering, according to the Rowan County District Attorney’s Office.

On Sept. 18, 2016, officers with the Salisbury Police Department were dispatched to Belk department store. They spoke with the loss prevention officer, who said that Leach concealed two items in a bag that she had brought into the store. Once she walked out of the store with the items, the loss prevention officer detained Leach and discovered the bag was full of clothing. Leach also had placed several stolen items in her purse, authorities said.

The total value of items was about $1,061.

Leach, 53, was previously convicted of felony larceny, felony breaking and entering, and felony robbery with a dangerous weapon, among other convictions.

Power, 37, was convicted on July 3 and was sentenced by Judge Anna Mills Wagoner to 58 months to 82 months in prison.

On Feb. 16, officers with the Kannapolis Police Department responded to West Eighth Street, where they spoke with a homeowner who said several items had been stolen from his home and that he believed Power was responsible. Officers then spoke with Power, who provided them with some of the stolen items that he had taken from the residence.

Power admitted that some of the items had been taken to Lowe’s in exchange for a gift card, authorities said.

Power was previously convicted of felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, felony possession of heroin, and felony larceny after breaking and entering, among other convictions.