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Jeremy Mayfield turns self in to NC magistrate

Submitted by Nick Needham on Thursday, March 1st, 4:52 pm

LENOIR, NC (WBTV) - Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield surrendered himself to a magistrate in Caldwell County Thursday afternoon.

Mayfield turned himself in to a state magistrate in Lenoir, reports WBTV's Steve Ohnesorge.

Mayfield said he is innocent of the four charges of felony larceny he was indicted on.

He was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.

Mayfield is alleged to have stolen thousands of dollar worth of equipment from racing shops and other businesses across the area. Several firearms were also found at his home that were stolen.

Two weeks ago, Mayfield went before a magistrate in Catawba County following an indictment on three charges of possession of stolen goods and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses.

In that case he was released on a $25,000 bond.

According to Catawba County, the alleged incidents occurred between November 1 and 16 of 2011, according to the indictments.

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Teen girl raped outside church, two teens charged, police say

Submitted by Chris Dyches
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, 2:07pm

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A teenage girl says she was raped outside of a Hickory-area church after a group meeting over the weekend.

According to police, the incident happened outside of the Exodus Church on Highland Avenue on Saturday evening.

Police say some teens had gathered at the church for a meeting. After the meeting, a 14-year-old girl claims she was raped outside of the church.

Her parents called police who went to the church and questioned several people.

Two teenage boys, 15 and 17-years-old, were questioned and later charged.  The charges for the 15-year-old were filed in juvenile court.

Seventeen-year-old Mikal Gray was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sexual offense. He was arrested by Hickory police and is being held on a $300,000 bond.

Officers say the teenage victim knew both boys.

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5 laptops, nearly $10,000 in jewelry stolen from home

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff
Monday, February 27th, 2012, 4:24pm

Newton, NC (WBTV) - Catawba County deputies are looking for at least one person who stole 5 laptops and nearly $10,000 in jewelry from a home on Ashley Street.

They say someone broke in through the back door of the single-family home sometime between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. They say two HP laptops and three Toshiba laptops were stolen, estimated to be worth a combined $2,800. 8 pieces of silver jewelry and nine pieces of gold jewelry were also taken, valued at $9,800. Deputies say a black Playstation 3 and five video games were also stolen.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Catawba County Sheriff's Office at 828-464-5241.

 

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

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Man pleads guilty in murder trial to killing, mutilating roommate

Submitted by Nick Needham on Thursday, February 23rd, 4:49 pm

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A man accused of killing his roommate and mutilating his body pled guilty to second degree murder Thursday.

Michael Joseph Anderson, 20, was sentenced in Catawba County Superior Court to at least 16 in state prison, according to a news release from District Attorney James Gaither.

The murder occurred in February of last year when Anderson murdered his 36-year-old roommate Stephen Starr, of Mountain View.

Related article: Facebook reveals details about murder suspect, victim in brutal killing

Starr died on Valentine's Day from multiple gunshot wounds in 2011.

An autopsy shows that after Starr was killed, his body was mutilated and the word "JOKER" was carved on his chest and abdomen. Words also were written in ball point pen on his abdomen.

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Teacher convicted of stalking student

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 3:33pm

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A high school teacher was convicted of stalking Thursday.

The District Attorney said John Michael Donadio entered an Alford plea in court. That means he did not admit guilt, but did admit prosecutors could have enough evidence to convict him.

Donadio was a teacher at Fred T. Foard High School and the victim was a student at the time the stalking occurred. Prior to his plea, Donadio permanently surrendered his teaching license to representatives of the Catawba County School Board.

The victim was in the courtroom today.

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

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Convicted murderer sentenced to life without parole in cold case

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 3:21pm

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A convicted murderer will spend the rest of his life behind bars, with no chance of parole.

In a Catawba County courtroom today, Antonio Gonzalez Trejo pleaded guilty First Degree Murder. He was then sentenced to life without parole for the July 2006 murder.

The murder investigation had turned into a cold case, but a DNA sample taken from Trejo while incarcerated for another crime matched. He was charged in June 2010.

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

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Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield indicted in Catawba County

Submitted by Nick Needham on Tuesday, February 21st, 6:49 pm

NEWTON, NC (WBTV) - Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield went before a
magistrate in Catawba County Tuesday following his indictment Monday on three
charges of possession of stolen goods and one count of obtaining property by
false pretenses.

Mayfield turned himself in to Catawba County Sheriff's
Detectives just after 3 p.m. and just over an hour later walked out of the
building free on $25000 unsecured bond. Mayfield said of the charges "They're
not true." His Attorney, Robert Freedman of Winston-Salem said Mayfield would
plead not guilty and he asked the public "To keep an open mind."

Mayfield thanked his supporters and said he looked forward
to the day he could get all the charges behind him and move on with his life.

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