ROCKINGHAM — An employee of a local retail store is accused of conspirting to steal nearly $1,000 in merchandise.
Jennifer Simmons Smith, 42, is alleged to have stolen a variety of items — including clothing products, food products, laundry products, storage bins, cat food, body sprays, conditioners, and razors — from the Dollar General store on Fayetteville Road on Aug. 10.
The total value of the reported stolen items is $941.20, according to warrants.
One of the warrants names several alleged co-conspirators and two of them have been charged: 56-year-old Joseph Benjamin Staton and 33-year-old Terry Ray Knight Jr.
(NOTE: Since Staton and Knight had been bailed out at the time of writing, no mugshots were readily available.)
The case was investigated by the Rockingham Police Department.
Smith, Staton and Knight have been charged with one misdemeanor count each of larceny, possession of stolen goods or property, and conspiracy. Smith is also charged with a felony count of larceny by an employee.
Smith was arrested Sept. 9 and, at the time of writing, is being held in the Richmond County Jail on a $5,000 secured bond.
Online court records show Staton was arrested Sept. 4, given a $500 secured bond and made bail the same day. Knight was arrested Sept. 3, given a $10,000 secured bond and bailed out the following day.
According to court records, Knight was out on bail after being charged in February with felony larceny, possession of stolen goods and first-degree trespassing. He was also charged with a probation violation.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Knight was convicted of misdemeanor larceny in August 2024 in New Hanover County.
All of Knight’s other prior convictions have been in Scotland County: selling a Schedule VI controlled substance (2016); three counts of misdemeanor breaking and entering, two counts of misdemeanor larceny, one felony count of possession of stolen goods (2019).
Staton was released from prison in May of 2022 after serving nearly eight years from a 2014 conviction on four counts of selling a Schedule II controlled substance and one count of being a habitual felon.
Staton’s criminal record dates back to 1988 and includes convictions on multiple charges of breaking and entering, writing and obtaining property with worthless checks, and criminal contempt.
Smith appears to have no prior convictions in North Carolina.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
