ROCKINGHAM — Ten detainees are facing charges for allegedly starting a riot at the Richmond County Jail over the weekend.
The “civil disturbance” happened around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, according to Sheriff James Clemmons.
All 10 — 29-year-old Anthony Spencer Jr. of Rockingham, 32-year-old Cedric Antonio Bell of Rockingham, 33-year-old Ronald Dean Smith of McColl, South Carolina, 24-year-old Terek Damaury Ross of Rockingham, 25-year-old Stephon Jewlton Easterling of Hamlet, 31-year-old Adrian Jerrod Caldwell of Concord, 24-year-old David Giovanni Boseman of Rockingham, 33-year-old John Thomas Grant of Rockingham, 22-year-old Timothy Maurice Streater of Richmond County, and 18-year-old Jaylan Montez Taylor — are charged with felony inciting to riot.
They have also been charged with felony misconduct by a prisoner and assault on a government employee.
Bell, Spencer and Grant face an additional charge of possession of a weapon by a prisoner.
They were each given an additional $75,000 secured bond for the charges related to the riot.
Clemmons said he was not aware of any serious injuries caused during the riot and all involved were checked by EMS.
The charges have been handed over to the district attorney’s office and the case is still under investigation, he added. Additional charges, if there are any, will also be presented to the DA’s office.
PENDING CHARGES
Two of the detainees, Smith and Boseman, were in jail each on a single probation violation, according to jail records. Smith has been held since April 6 on a $2,500 secured bond; Boseman had no bond.
Taylor has been in jail since Nov. 7, 2019, when he was arrested as a probation absconder.
A previous charge of possession of a firearm by a felon has been dismissed, jail records show. However, he was being held on a $500,000 secured bond for another charge of possession of a firearm by a felon, in addition to charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and resisting a public officer.
Spencer has been in jail since March 4, 2019. He is being held under a $200,000 secured bond on charges of possession of a weapon by a prisoner and carrying a concealed gun.
Previous charges of injury to personal property, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and stalking have been dismissed, records show.
Bell was admitted on March 19 where he was being held under a $20,000 secured bond for larceny of a motor vehicle, a $25,000 secured bond for being a habitual felon, and without bond on charges of first-degree burglary and a parole violation.
Ross was booked on April 24, 2019 and faces charges of first-degree forcible rape, common law robbery and assault inflicting serious bodily injury with a combined $125,000 secured bond.
Easterling has been in jail since Sept. 19, 2019 awaiting trial on three counts each of larceny of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny; and one count each of possession of a stolen automobile, attempted obtaining property by false pretenses, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, resisting a public officer and a parole violation.
He was being held under a combined $35,000 secured bond.
Caldwell was jailed on March 2 on charges of possession of a stolen firearm, identity theft, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia. His pre-riot bond is $75,000 secured.
Grant has been in jail since April 23, 2019 under a combined $153,000 secured bond on the following charges: interfering with emergency communications; second-degree kidnapping; felonious restraint; breaking and entering; intimidating a witness; communicating threats; and several protective order violations.
Streater has been held since March 6 under a combined $140,000 secured bond on the following charges: fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle; possession of a stolen auto vehicle; aggressive driving; reckless driving with wanton disregard; injury to personal property; two counts of felony larceny; larceny of a motor vehicle; breaking and entering; larceny after breaking and entering; possession of stolen goods or property; resisting a public officer; and assault on a government official.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
