ROCKINGHAM — A previously convicted felon is accused of having heroin, two firearms and giving a Richmond County Sheriff’s deputy a fake name.
According to arrest warrants, 42-year-old Gus Arthur Thrift Jr., of Ellerbe, told a deputy during a traffic stop that his name was “Jimmy Shepard.”
Thrift allegedly had an unspecified quantity of heroin and glass pipe, as well as a Savage .243-caliber bolt-action rifle and a pink camouflage Hi-Point .380 semi-automatic handgun.
The date of offense listed is Jan. 28, however, Richmond County Jail records show Thrift was booked Feb. 13 on the following charges: possession of heroin; possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of drug paraphernalia; and giving fictitious information to an officer.
Thrift is being held on a $50,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 3.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Thrift was most recently convicted in 2019 on two counts of felony breaking and entering.
He was first convicted in 1996 misdemeanor hit and run and driving while disqualified, records show.
In 1998, Thrift was convicted on three counts of breaking and entering vehicles (two attempted) and one count of misdemeanor breaking and entering. The following year he was convicted on two counts of communication threats and one count of damage to property.
Records show Thrift had several convictions in following years:
- 2002 – driving while license revoked
- 2004 – communicating threats, damage to property, misdemeanor larceny
- 2005 – assault inflicting serious injury, driving while license revoked
With the latter driving conviction, Thrift’s probation was revoked on the previous criminal convictions, landing him behind bars for three months.
Thrift was again convicted of driving with a revoked license in 2009, then yet again in 2016 — in addition to speeding. The latter conviction was in Randolph County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
