ROCKINGHAM — A Richmond County man is in jail, facing larceny charges in three counties.
Jacob Tray McKenzie, 29, of Rockingham, is accused of stealing $2,890 worth of garden center items from the Rockingham Walmart on Feb. 23.
Court records show McKenzie also had outstanding warrants from Moore and Cumberland counties.
McKenzie is accused of stealing a Dyson vacuum cleaner from the Target in Southern Pines and removing or destroying the anti-theft device on Dec. 24; as well as stealing a pair of Nike Air Max LTD 3s from Rack Room Shoes in Aberdeen on Dec. 30. Those warrants were issued Jan. 15 and Jan. 6, respectively.
In Cumberland County, McKenzie is accused of conspiring with another individual to steal five Milwaukee power tools, valued at $476.97, from the Home Depot in Fayetteville on Nov. 18. That warrant was issued Dec. 22.
(NOTE: It does not appear the alleged co-conspirator has been served.)
McKenzie was arrested Feb. 23 and faces the following charges in the respective counties:
Richmond - felony larceny
Moore - felony larceny; larceny by removing, destroying or deactivating a component of an inventory control device; misdemeanor larceny; possession of stolen goods or property
Cumberland - misdemeanor larceny, misdemeanor conspiracy, possession of stolen goods or property
He is being held in the Richmond County Jail on a combined $14,000 secured bond. His Richmond County court date is slated for March 3. His court appearances in Moore and Cumberland counties ate scheduled for March 20 and March 12, respectively.
McKenzie was previously charged in January 2025 with larceny of a motor vehicle after stealing a car left disabled on Battley Dairy Road; and in July with breaking and entering a house of worship after unlawfully entering a church near his home on Eason Drive.
Court records show the respective charges, both of which were felonies, were reduced to misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor breaking and entering, respectively, on Nov. 6, 2025.
McKenzie was convicted in 2014 of breaking and entering a place of worship, as well as assault with a deadly weapon, according to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
Records show he also has the following prior convictions:
2016 - felonious restraint, crime against nature
2019 - misdemeanor larceny (four counts); resisting a public officer, violation for having a controlled substance in a penal institution (probation revoked, served seven months, followed by eight-month post-release revocation)
2023 - misdemeanor larceny, carrying a concealed weapon
2024 - obtaining property by false pretenses and common law forgery
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
NOTE: This story has been updated to add the defendant's bond and court dates. 1-31-26.
