HAMLET — Two men are facing charges after they allegedly broke into a group home late last week and attacked an employee.
According to warrants, 32-year-old John Thomas Johnson, of Rush Street in Rockingham, and 28-year-old Michael Anthony Ellerbe, of McArthur Drive in Rockingham, broke into the Monarch group home on Circlewood Drive in Hamlet late the night of Aug. 21.
The home, which according to its website provides a group-living high-residential environment for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, was occupied by six residents. Monarch has 11 facilities in Richmond County.
During the break-in, both interior and exterior doors were damaged, warrants show.
One of the employees, who was apparently the target of the defendants, was assaulted and sustained minor injuries, according to investigators.
Both Johnson and Ellerbe were arrested and charged with one felony count each of first-degree burglary and breaking and entering to terrorize or injure; and one misdemeanor count each of assault and battery and injury to real property.
They were booked into the Richmond County Jail, each under a $25,000 secured bond. Ellerbe was released on bail Aug. 24. Johnson remained in jail Tuesday evening.
They are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 10.
Investigators say more individuals may be charged in this case.
Neither man has any other pending charges, according to online court records.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Ellerbe was convicted of assault on a female in 2014.
Johnson has no prior convictions in this state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
