HAMLET — Two men and a woman are accused of stealing copper wiring on New Year’s Eve.
According to warrants issued to the Hamlet Police Department, 38-year-old Kristopher Shane Carpenter, and 37-year-old Ashley Marie Goodwin, both of Hamlet, and 19-year-old Gene Lewis Knight Jr. stole more than $1,000 worth of copper wire Dec. 31 in the city limits.
The three were also allegedly caught with a stolen U-Haul car dolly.
All three were arrested and each charged with: felony larceny; conspiracy to commit felony larceny; possession of stolen goods or property; and damage to property more than $1,000.
All three had their first appearance in court Jan. 2 and their next court date is slated for Jan. 15.
Online court records show Knight was also served with warrants issued to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Knight is accused of stealing non-ferrous metals belonging to Duke Energy and tools owned by Great Southwestern Construction (valued at more than $14,000) from the substation in East Rockingham on Nov. 11 and 26. He also allegedly tried to pawn the tools.
In those cases, Kight is charged with two counts of first-degree trespassing on infrastructure, and one count each of felony larceny, larceny after breaking and entering, and attempted obtaining property by false pretenses.
Records show Knight also had an outstanding order for arrest, issued Sept. 24, for failing to appear in court on the following pending charges: breaking and entering; larceny after breaking and entering; possession of stolen goods or property; felony larceny; conspiracy to commit breaking and entering; possession of a stolen motor vehicle; breaking and entering a motor vehicle; and two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle.
An OFA was issued Nov. 7 when Knight reportedly didn’t show up for court on a charge of simple assault, and another Dec. 15 for failing to appear on a charge of obtaining property by false pretenses.
Records show yet another OFA was issued Dec. 15 and a bond forfeiture notice on Dec. 17 in a felony conspiracy case.
Knight is being held on a combined $52,500 secured bond, according to Richmond County Jail records.
Carpenter is current out on bail on the following charges in two cases: robbery with a dangerous weapon; conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon; discharging a firearm in city limits; assault by pointing a gun; assault with a deadly weapon; possession of stolen goods; communicating threats; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
However, Carpenter’s current bond is set at $25,000 secured.
According to court records, Goodwin owes more than $800 in assessments on two traffic citations and has two pending counts of possession of stolen goods or property from July. She is also being held at a $25,000 secured bond.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Carpenter has the following prior convictions:
2007 - felony larceny (2 counts); felony breaking and entering
2010 - felony larceny; driving while impaired
2015 - felony breaking and entering; obtaining property by false pretenses
2016 - hit and run, reckless driving, driving while license revoked (Scotland Co.)
2017 - assault on a female; battery on an unborn child; injury to personal property
2020 - possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance
2022 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia
Neither Goodwin nor Knight appear to have any prior convictions in North Carolina.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
