Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / May 25, 1989, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2-A?THE BRUNSWICK BEACO Defendc A Bladen County man and an Onslow County man received active prison sentences last week in separate sex-related cases heard in Brunswick County Superior Court, according to the clerk of court's office. Christopher Fitzgerald Rhodes, 22, of Route 1, Riegelwood, was found guilty last Thursday of seconddegree rape and second-degree sexual offense. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Also, Thomas Paul Grotzinger, 36. of Holly Ridge, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree sexual offense and was sentenced to a 30-year prison term. Judge Darius B. Herring Jr. gave both defendants credit for time they already have served awaiting trial ana recommended both men for work release. Developers(Continued From Page 1-A) commercial shellfish harvest in Brunswick County. State and regional officials with the division could not be reached for comment on the revised plans Tuesday. But Anderson said he believes the new set of plans will satisfy state and federal agencies and local shellfishermen concerned about the marina and that the permit application will be approved. "It certainly is not going to cause any damage, so I hope common sense and judgment will prevail," he said. Anderson stressed that developers also felt the original plans would not have hurt the environment. Anderson said Channel Side officials also have decided how stormwater runoff and wastewater disposal will be handled at the proposed marina, although he could not comment specifically on those plans. He said money would not be spent on detailed design plans for those items until after a permit is granted. The original set of plans calling for the boat basin and dry storage area was first submitted last April. Plans were revised in response to opposition that peaked last fall. Ruling? (Continued From Page 1-A) up the 1980 conviction because her staff followed standard procedure and checked Boney's record only to 1982?the year that the office's indexfile begins. She explained that most criminal record checks go back only seven years. The certified record check given to Boney's attorney and later to the community sendee office was dated to show that the check went back only to 1982, Ms. Morgan said. Both Easley and Hicks told the Beacon that the District Attorney's office agreed to dismiss Boney's charges in exchange for his agreement to do community service work, because they felt the state's case would be "weak" in a jury trial. Easley said his office's investigation of the case turned up seven or eight credible witnesses who contradicted the deputy's allegations. When asked by the Beacon on May 8 if the agreement to do community service work was an admission of guilt. Boney said it was not. In addition to the community service, Boney also signed a civil release, agreeing not to sue the sheriff's department over the case, Easlev said. The district attorney indicated Monday that the former charges against Ronev would remain dismissed, because "the defendant has already completed the community service." I I HOW TO SU i THE BRUIMSV i post orrici [v. SHALLOTll N FOR AWARD-WINNIE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RA I In Brunswick County N C Sales Tax Postage charge TOTAL Elsewhere in North Carolina N C S<jles I ax | Postage charge TOTAL I Outside North Carolina Postacje eliurqe TOTAL Complete And Retur Nome I I Aclrlit",1', Cily, State | Zip i iN. Thursday. May 25, 1989 ints Get Ac In both proceedings. Assistant District Attorney Napoleon Barefoot Jr. served as prosecutor. Rhodes was represented by Wilmington attorney Russell Davis; Grotzinger was represented by Tom Heller of Yaupon Beach. According to court records, a seven-woman, five-man jury found Rhodes guilty of the two sex offenses after deliberating for about three hours last Wednesday and Thursday. The trial included about two days of testimony. Before Herring consolidated the two charges for judgment, the defendant faced a possible maximum prison term of 40 years for each offense. The presumptive prison term for each charge was 12 years. Rhodes was arrested on Jan. 30, one day after the offenses occurred in northern Brunswick County. He was THE HOLDEN BEACH WEST CAS1 access to Shallotte Inlet (backgroun dunes at the western end of Hoi developer of Holden Beach West mai Appellate (Continued From Page 1-t inent issue, argued last week that ther and adverse, hostile use" of the same than the necessary 20-year period. T1 only about 60 feet due to a large dune tt Referring to Briggs as a "mounts suggested that the judge?a Mars Hill take the changing nature of beach ( oiuviaiiuil ill UJcllMil^ Ili?> UUC1S1UII. n tains and valleys . . . that do not chang earthquake," Maxwell said. Jernigan's brief remarks addresse doctrine," which says the state must p right to "reasonable access" to the shi The assistant attorney general arg was "presumed to be public" in 1963 an plats that did not list the road as priv; that the subdivision receives police ar and sanitation and water services alonj special assessments. In her argument, Ms. Sullivan basi Redwine Files Brunswick County Commissioners will be asked to choose between three options to seek state funds for restoration of the abandoned Cawcaw Drainage District. State Hep. E. David Redwine told the Beacon Monday that he introduced a blank appropriations bill in the N.C. House last week, "to use as a vehicle to help the drainage district." However, Redwine indicated that the route he takes with his proposed legislation will depend on the comniissioners' level of involvement?including financial involvement-with the drainage district, which is located in i I BSCRIBE TO VICK$BEACON i <>V>H JPTH CAROLINA ,>ft4S<y AG NEWS COVERAGE TES BY MAIL: Sr Ciii.cn J 6 30 8 30 I 32 27 > 3 68 3 68 ! 10.30 9.25 I 6 30 5 30 | 32 27 8 18 818 | 14.80 13.75 1 6 30 5 30 | 9 65 9 65 I 15.95 14.95 J n To Above Address I I 1 I I I I I :tive Prison indicted March 13 by a Brunswick County grand jury on the seconddegree rape and second-degree sexual offense charges. The victim was a 20-year-old 1 .eland area woman, who was related to the defendant, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department. Investigators said Rhodes forced the woman to have sexual intercourse with him in his vehicle, parked on Hooper Hill Road. In the other case, Grotzinger was arrested Feb. 21 by Boiling Spring Lakes Police, after being indicted Feb. G by a Brunswick County grand jury. The charge against the defendant stemmed from a November 1988 incident, involving a 10-year-old Boiling Spring I-akes girl. The offense occurred after Grotzinger was released from prison on a 198G indecent liberties conviction, which involved the - ...?msu E involves public View Boulevard 1 id) through these dune area is a pri den Beach. The the state contend ntains that Ocean tioual means of a< > Court Hears \| plaintiffs' position, e was "continuous tion of the road in I property for more in a 1975 plat whicl le course deviated Also, she main lat shifted, he said, was not continuou; iin boy," Maxwell kept out the "vast I resident?did not use the property w property into con- Ms. Sullivan i e's used to moun- ministrative Code P unless thorp's an "rppnani7n rtuhlis* i ed but do not in anj d the "public trust to provide public a rotect the public's The judges qi ireline. their arguments. ;ued that the road Driving On Reach d 1974 subdivision western end of the ite. He also noted He also asked i id fire protection, division, even tho I the road without there. Ms. Sullivar record to indicate cally rebutted the "unless an owner c 'Blank' Bill To Fi southwestern Brunswick County. Two of the three options involve using Redwine's blank bill to request funds from the General Assembly?either a full $100,000 state allocation or a $50,000 state allocation with $50,000 in matching funds from the county, Redwine said. He noted that the matching-fund option would have "a lot better chance" for approval than if the county asked him to seek the full $100,000, considering the state's "tight" budget. tu:?? ?A:? : ? "AA I lie lllli u U|JIIUII IIIVUIVL'S $Z3U,UUU in grant funds that are expected to be available for civil works projects through the N.C. Office of Water Check this week's iAr! Aermotor Water Pump & Tan 10-Year Warra Interior Latex Flat Warm White Color 5 Gal. each Touch Lamps I One & Three Step 5 i wm m <| Mobile Home 754-9323 OP on Main St., Shallotte i Terms In S< same victim, according to records on file in at the Brunswick County Clerk of Court's office. I,ike Rhodes, Grotzinger faced a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for the sex offense. The presumptive term was 12 years. Also during the May 15 term of Brunswick County Superior Court, Judge Herring heard the following cases, according to the clerk of court's office: George James Pappadoulis III, guilty plea, second-degree rape, prayer for judgment continued pending a pre-sentencing diagnostic study. George Robert Cron, guilty pleas, 22 counts of breaking and entering, 23 counts of larceny, five counts of possession of stolen goods, two counts of misdemeanor larceny, one count of misdemeanor breaking and i entering, 10-year active prison term, i iVest through the subdivision to this vate road, while a eitizens group and that the road is the public's tradi- : :eess to the inlet. Debate 1 1 She said any implied public dedicathc 1963 and 1974 plats was "revoked" i listed the road as private, tained that public use of the property >, because the developer's barricades ' majority" of people who attempted to ithout permission. ' ilso cited a section of the N.C. Adwhieh states that NRCD's policies ise right into the beach areas as definr way require private property owners ccess to the beach." icoiiuncu tin mice aiiuuieys Qunng Ragles twice inquired about a "No " sign that the town erected at the subdivision street. f town police regularly patrol the subugh they don't enforce traffic laws i said there was nothing in the court that lawmen entered the subdivision ailed the police in." jrid Drainage Resources, Redwine said. The grants are awarded based on need, and matching funds also are required. Redwine said he asked County Manager John T. Smith and County Attorney David Clegg to approach the commissioners about the funding method to be pursued. The matter was not discussed during hurlcet work session Monday and Tuesday. However, Commissioner Kelly Holden?whose electoral district includes the drainage district?told the Beacon Tuesday that he would probably bring up the Cawcaw issue when the board addresses contributions to agencies in the budget. specials! .k$179.99] irity Wall Paint $32.0Q ..starting at Q?0S styles to choose from ? ? ? Supplies, Inc. 1 'EN MON.-SAT. I f across from Hardee's) i spa rate Se credit time served, work release recommended. Cardeil Holden, guilty pleas, driving while impaired, assault on an officer, 30-day active jail term. Larry George Dew, guilty plea, speeding 64 mph in a 55-mph zone, court costs. William Anthony Daniels, guilty plea, possession of stolen property, five-year suspended prison term, credit time served, five years of supervised probation, $300 fine, court costs, $350 attorney fees, $75 restitution. Norman C. White Jr., guilty plea, reckless driving, 60-day suspended jail term, two years of unsupervised probation, $200 fine, court costs. John Gregory Rouse, guilty plea, attempt to burn dwelling, three-year suspended prison term, five years of supervised probation, 90-day active Alleged Dri Arrested; C $8,000 In G BY SUSAN USHER A joint law enforcement investigation Friday led to the arrest of a Pennsylvania man described as an East Coast "courier" on felony and misdemeanor drug charges, as well as the seizure of a vehicle, drugs and $8,200 in cash. Charles Jacobs Bernhardt, 28, of Lancaster, Pa., was being held Tuesday in the Brunswick County Jail on $250,000 bond following his arrest Friday after state and local officers stopped the auto he was operating on Stanley Road at approximately 1 a.m. Stanley Road is in the Holden Beach-Varnamtown area. Lt. David Crocker, head of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Division, said officers seized the 1985 Mitsubishi, as well as $8,200 in cash, 3.5 ounces (97 grams) of cocaine, 10 grams of marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia. "It is apparent that he was a courier working the East Coast," said Crocker, who participated in the seizure as a sworn DEA agent for cases originating in Brunswick County. Crocker said Bernhardt was "independent" of previous drug-related conspiracies investigated by the department. Initial investigation showed no other warrants pending against the defendant. The 1985 Mitsubishi was stopped as part of an investigation initiated by the SBI with the assistance of the county's narcotics unit. Lt. Crocker said he was "not at liberty" to discuss how officers came to make the "profile" stop on the vehicle. Upon halting the vehicle, however, he said officers found a small quantiIV _ _ I beach cafe' 842-5515 Holdon Beach Causeway Breakfast & Fruit Bar Open 7 AM Daily See our ad in the Dining Guide \ L T .i r*r . - ' ^ lamaiui uiversions' ^ Bnhm Mm 3DeIi & f i I hvy. 17 & Met orsk'y A> (IVtvvccn I lu' r.itbun's l.llili' .iikI liibvS Little River, S.C. OFFERING: Sandwiches, Salads, S Desserts, Beer, Wi liat-ln or Carry-C > entering Casual 01 I'.leg I ri & Sat Nights i Serving Light Din Your I Ionia: Altni I'rull I hum mi c'V I Inl Irwin (/, G (803)249-5110 Moil I luirs ID 4, I n & Sat ID I I x Cases jail term, work release recommended, $1,000 fine, court costs. Jimmy Ray Lewis Jr., guilty ph a, driving while license revoked, twoyear prison term, credit time served, work release recommended, probation revoked. George Lewis Clements, guilty pleas, breaking and entering, burning of building, four-year suspended prison term, credit time served, five years of supervised probation, $1,000 restitution to prosecuting witness, $550 attorney fees. Thomas S. Corbitt III, no contest plea, using a state boating access area for a purpose other than launching or retrieving a boat, prayer for judgment continued. Rex Allen Brown, guilty plea, misdemeanor larceny, two-year active prison term, credit time served, work release recommended, probation revoked. jg Courier !ar, Drugs, 0 <r? B sn seized ty of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The resulting search of the vehicle then disclosed a hidden compartment where officers found a bag that contained both the cocaine and cash. Charges filed against Bernhardt include trafficking by possession of cocaine, by transportation of cocaine and by manufacturing i repackaging) of cocaine; maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of sale or keeping of cocaine; misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bernhardt's first appearance was in Brunswick County District Court Monday, with a probable cause hearing to be held within 14 days. Crocker said the drugs ennfiscat . in the seizure would be sent to the Nil! lab for analysis. While the case will be tried in the state courts, the car and money are considered a federal seizure because of Crocker's status. This means that agencies participating in the seizure?the SBI, Brunswick County Sheriff's Department and DEA, will share in the proceeds of the car and money. In the case of local or state seizures, fines and forfeitures and other proceeds go to the public schools. Crocker's designation as a sworn DEA agent gives him legal authority to track cases anywhere in the United States or abroad, he explained, so long as the case originates in Brunswick County. He first used those powers in a "sting" operation at a local golf course that resulted in arrest of three out-of-state drug dealers. L A N V A L ? Nursery Lavender Cotton and Sweet William containers $4.DD 10 miles north ol Bolivia on US 17 Mon Fri. 9 G Saturday 9 12 253-5114 i 'Kl World; A 1 ^^n/sEn j\ OlipS, / J 111 /l/iV \ i yiiii \\ I ) J ncrs / if p ( fA
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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May 25, 1989, edition 1
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