MURPHY
Man facing fraud charges
 |
A Clarksville, Ga., man has been accused of writing checks from the account of a dead person.
On Dec. 11, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert James Allen, 63, of Clarksville, Ga., on forgery, containing property by false pretense and extradition/fugitive to another state charges. According to the sheriff’s office:
In July, Cherokee County began a joint investigation with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office into allegations that Allen had fraudulently used the checking account of a deceased person to obtain funds from local businesses in Cherokee and Clay counties. This investigation involved several thousand dollars of loss to a local merchants where Allen cashed the checks.
The investigation revealed that Allen has a history of obtaining funds by fraud in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Georgia and was wanted in other states on similar charges, which he apparently fled from.
Allen is in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a $90,000 secure bond for the following charges. He is set to appear in court Thursday, Jan. 13.
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law, call 828-837-1344 or email a tip to crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.
ROBBINSVILLE
Sheriff suits gone, 2 back
 |
Three separate lawsuits were voluntarily dismissed at the start of the month, although two of the plaintiffs immediately refiled.
A trio of suits against the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, former sheriff Joseph Jones and Sheriff Jerry Crisp – filed by former employees Brent McMahan, Reba McMahan and Catrina Buchanan – were dropped between Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, with the McMahans refiling their suits Dec. 3.
Buchanan’s suit alleged sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, wrongful termination and punitive damages against the office, after her July 30, 2020, dismissal. Buchanan worked as executive assistant for former sheriff Danny Millsaps – and later Jones – after being hired on Nov. 7, 2016.
Brent’s original suit alleged wrongful termination, blacklisting, mishandling of federal grants, and intentional and emotional distress. Reba’s suit contained the same allegations, but added constructive termination, failure to hire and sexual harassment.
However, the allegations of wrongful termination, constructive termination and failure to hire were dismissed by District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Asheville on March 17. Another allegation of mishandling government funding was voluntarily removed by Reba on April 2.
The new suits – filed by Waynesville-based attorney Russell L. McLean III, who is representing both Brent and Reba – are largely similar to the ones just voluntarily dismissed, with a few additions and subtractions. Brent’s new suit has been filed against Jones, the county sheriff’s office and RLI Underwriting Services Inc. – a Delaware-based insurance company that represents the office. The new lawsuit does not include the allegation of mishandling federal grants.
Reba’s new suit lists the same three defendants and re-lists both the wrongful and constructive terminations, as well as the failure to hire allegation. She contends that discussing issues with District Attorney Ashley Welch led to her dismissal, and that she worked for the office from April 4, 2019, through July 28, 2020.
FRANKLIN
Guilty man back in jail
A Franklin man is in state prison, probation revoked, after two alert probation officers uncovered additional criminal behavior.
District Attorney Ashley Welch said Jeremy Cole Sanders, 29, pleaded guilty this month in Macon County Superior Court to two felony charges, possess heroin and trafficking opium/heroin, as well as a misdemeanor charge of resisting a public officer.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward activated prior drug-related convictions. He ordered Sanders to serve a minimum of 70 months in prison and a maximum of 93 months in prison. Coward also imposed a $50,000 fine.
On July 1, as probation officers were leaving the home of a different offender, they spotted Sanders driving by. The officers followed in their vehicle, knowing Sanders was wanted for probation violation, facing active warrants for his arrest.
The suspect fled when he noticed the state-owned vehicle. Based on previous encounters, one of the probation officers accurately predicted Sanders would go to a particular residence on Allison Creek Road.
After finding the vehicle, one of the officers approached Sanders. He again attempted to drive away. This time, however, Sanders mired the vehicle in mud.
The probation officers searched Sanders and discovered a plastic bag containing nearly 14 grams of heroin. From staff reports.