ANDREWS
Man guilty of child assault
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Benito Morales Mendez, 43, of Andrews, pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child on Sept. 27.
Judge William Coward sentenced Mendez to serve a minimum of 16 months to a maximum of 29 months in the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections. Mendez was given 728 days pretrial confinement credit. Mendez has since been taken into federal custody for pending matters.
Mendez is registered as a sex offender and is required to remain registered for a period of 30 years. A permanent no contact order was entered to prevent contact by Mendez with the child victim in this case.
In January 2020, a complaint was made with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office of an allegation of sexual assault involving a minor child. Pursuant to this allegation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by HAVEN Children’s Advocacy Center, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Department of Social Services, Cherokee County Schools, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Apprehension Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
“As you can see it takes a team effort and one of the reasons we work so closely with our local and federal partners,” Sheriff Derrick Palmer said in a release. “We know that only through cooperative teamwork we are able to bring these cases to close. We thank the office of District Attorney Ashley Welch for their assistance in this and other cases.”
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law, call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip via email to crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.
MURPHY
Local jailed in child rape
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Charles Anthony “CJ” Payne, 32, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual offense with a person who is 15 years of age or younger on Sept. 27.
Judge William Coward sentenced Payne to a serve an active term of minimum of 168 months to a maximum of 262 months in the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections, with a credit for 560 days pretrial confinement. Upon his release, Payne will be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years and have a permanent no contact order with the victim.
In September 2020, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into a missing juvenile girl. During the investigation, Payne became a person of interest.
Cherokee County sheriff’s investigators and HAVEN officials worked collaboratively with the District Attorney’s Office to gather evidence – including cellular telephone information, social media information and biological evidence – which enabled them to obtain sufficient evidence to present the case on March 8, 2021, to the Cherokee County Grand Jury, which handed down the indictment on Payne.
“As you can imagine numerous hours and resources were spent conducting this investigation,” Sheriff Derrick Palmer said in a release. “These cases demonstrate the professionalism of these individuals who worked cooperatively to bring about this outcome. We want to thank the office of District Attorney Ashley Welch, along with HAVEN Children’s Advocacy Center, for their diligence, cooperation and teamwork in this investigation. We also pray for all in this and these types of investigations.”
CLEVELAND, Tenn.
Murphy man
dies in wreck
Authorities are looking for a driver who struck and killed a man early Oct. 5, then drove off, according to Newschannel9.com.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol says troopers discovered the body of 64-year-old Timothy Golden of Murphy, N.C., a little after 1:30 a.m. on Waterlevel Highway.
Golden was struck and died at the scene. The driver did not stop. The report has no description of the vehicle.
If you know anything about this incident, call the Tennessee Highway Patrol at 423-634-6890.
BRYSON CITY
Chase ends in jail term
A homeless man who stole a pickup truck in Bryson City and led officers on a two-county, high-speed chase pleaded guilty last week in Swain County Superior Court, District Attorney Ashley Welch said.
On the afternoon of June 23, 2020, James Caviness, 52, stole an unoccupied pickup truck that was idling in front of a service station. He sped west out of Bryson City onto U.S. 19, then exited for U.S. 74. During the 30-minute chase, and in rainy conditions, he drove at speeds that at times exceeded 100 mph.
In the Nantahala Gorge, with N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper T.S. Cochran in pursuit, Caviness ignored the double-yellow line, passing a truck hauling large, round hay bales. A short distance later, he turned around into the eastbound lanes, speeding back toward Bryson City.
The tires on the pickup disintegrated as Caviness drove over stop sticks officers placed on the road.
Superior Court Judge Todd Pomeroy ordered Caviness to serve a minimum prison sentence of 120 months and a maximum prison sentence of 166 months. He pleaded guilty to felony larceny, felony flee to elude, six counts of injury to property, driving while impaired and habitual felon.
From staff reports.