ROCKINGHAM — A man convicted earlier this month is back in jail after allegedly being caught with drugs after pawning stolen equipment.
According to a magistrate’s order, 26-year-old Braxton Montgomery Lewis broke into a building on Freeman Mill Road on March 11, stealing a Husqvarna leaf blower. He then allegedly took the leaf blower to a pawn shop, where he received $125 for it.
The document alleges that Lewis was also found with 1.1 grams of methamphetamine, baggies, scales, and a syringe.
Lewis was arrested by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and charged with: breaking and entering; larceny after breaking and entering; obtaining property by false pretenses; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held on a $25,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 20.
Court records show Lewis took a plea deal on March 3 for a charge of misdemeanor larceny — reduced from a felony charge of larceny of a motor vehicle from an incident revolving around selling a stolen Ford Escape to a scrapyard in January. An additional charge of obtaining property by false pretense was dismissed per the deal.
Lewis also pleaded guilty the same day to a reduced charge of simple assault, originally filed as a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Neither of those records are yet reflected with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
Records show Lewis has had multiple convictions throughout the region:
Richmond County
2020 - misdemeanor larceny; resisting a public officer; fleeing to elude arrest; failing to stop at an intersection with a flashing light
2022 - possession of a firearm by a felon; obtaining property by false pretenses; possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
2023 - misdemeanor larceny
Moore County
2020 - violation of a protective order (x3); assault on a female; common law false imprisonment; interfering with emergency communication
2023 - misdemeanor larceny
Montgomery County
2022 - driving while impaired
Cumberland County
2018 - simple assault; injury to personal property
Records show Lewis was released from prison in Februrary of 2024 and his parole ended Nov. 6.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
