DERBY — A Hoke County man and an unidentified juvenile are accused of trying to break into vehicles at a private camping resort.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Sycamore Lodge around 2:27 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 in reference to a call of attempted break-ins.
The alleged victim reportedly told deputies that his security cameras had been activated by motion and he saw two males trying to get into his truck.
A description of the suspects was released in an attempt to locate them on the grounds, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies reportedly found an unsecure vehicle with Maryland tags on the side of the road.
According to a press release, deputies were set up on both ends of Sycamore Lane and, at 4:15 a.m., that vehicle passed by and was stopped.
The driver was identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Tyrone Pearson of Raeford and the passenger was a juvenile.
(Note: Law enforcement generally does not release the names of suspects under the age of 18.)
Deputies reportedly matched the pair to the suspects in the video by clothing that was found.
Pearson was arrested and charged with one count of attempted breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and booked into the Richmond County Jail on a $2,000 secured bond. Jail records on Monday afternoon appear to show that he had been bailed out.
Online court records show Pearson is also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and cited for having a fictitious tag.
Pearson is scheduled to appear in court on the criminal charges and traffic citation on Feb. 16.
Investigators say the juvenile was released to a parent and will be charged by juvenile petition.
Online records show Pearson has no other pending charges or prior criminal convictions in North Carolina.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
