RCSO charges man with vehicle theft for allegedly buying car with movie money

ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing felony charges after allegedly using movie money to buy a car.

An arrest warrant, taken out by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, alleges that Joseph Stuart Spurlin, 36, of Rockingham, agreed to buy a 2011 Nissan Altima for $1,100 on Feb. 8 — then used movie prop money to complete the transaction.

The warrant was issued Feb. 12, charging Spurlin with: obtaining property by false pretenses; larceny of a motor vehicle; and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was arrested the same day and is being held without bond in the Richmond County Jail.

(NOTE: The warrant and court records list his name as “Joseph Steve Spurlin.”)

Spurlin is scheduled to appear in court on these charges Feb. 26.

Online court records show Spurlin was currently out on bond for several other criminal cases from 2025. Those cases include the following charges:

• two counts of felony larceny; two counts of possession of stolen goods or property
• felony possession of cocaine; simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; and simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance; 
• possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver IV controlled substance;
• possession of a firearm by a felon
• Possession of a stolen firearm; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia
• Felony larceny; possession of stolen goods or property

Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Spurlin has the following prior convictions:

2010 - misdemeanor larceny

2013 -  larceny of firearms, possessing a stolen firearm

2017 - driving while impaired

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.