Two locals get arrested
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Two Cherokee County, N.C., residents are facing charges in Bradley County, according to clevelandbanner.com. u Joel Finley, 42, of Murphy, N.C., was arrested by the Cleveland Police Department and charged with shoplifting-theft of property, criminal trespass. u Horace William Moneymaker, 55, of Murphy, was arrested by Cleveland police and charged with possession of stolen property.
4 charged in auto theft
HAYESVILLE — Two vehicles were reported stolen from Jacky Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on the morning of July 13, but they have since been recovered.
Four Charlotte men ages 17-21 face multiple charges in the thefts. The men fled Clay County in a 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat and a 2021 Ram 1500 TRX stolen from the dealership, according to Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan.
Dealership owner Ed Ashe said the Hellcat and the TRX are worth about $100,000 each. "The Hellcat was clocked at 156 mph in the chase, and the truck is about the same way,” he added. In the last two years, the dealership has been struck five times involving about 10 cars.
Buchanan said two of the suspects entered separate vehicles on the lot by breaking a side glass window. They used a computer tablet consistent with what a professional locksmith would use to access the vehicles' onboard computers. After cloning the vehicles' ignition settings, the offenders fled the area.
Convicted sex offender
WAYNESVILLE — A Haywood County man will spend 80-116 years in state prison for repeated sexual abuse of two young girls, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said.
Today, a jury found William Bobby Burnette, 72, of Waynesville, guilty on four counts of statutory rape of a child less than 15 years of age and three counts of statutory sex offense. Additionally, the 12-person jury found Burnette guilty on eight counts of indecent liberties.
The Vaughn Cove Road resident raped and molested the children starting in 2018, through Feb. 7, 2022, when the offenses were reported. Today, both girls are 15 years old.
Assistant district attorney Kate Robinette prosecuted the case. She said Burnette targeted and “groomed” both children.
“Bob Burnette chose these girls because he knew he could buy their love with clothing, shoes, vapes and meals-out at restaurants,” she said.
Robinette said before the sexual abuse took place, the two girls liked to skate, ride four-wheelers, play freeze tag, and hide and seek. “But they started going to Bob Burnette’s house and they grew up, real fast,” she added.
From staff reports.