Financial ID Theft Victims in Wilkes

According to the ID Theft Center, Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. It is important for consumers to recognize that identity theft is not just a financial crime. This crime varies widely, and can include financial identity theft (checking and/or credit card fraud), criminal identity theft, governmental identity theft, and medical identity theft.  Just this week, 2 Wilkes County residents have fallen victim to the credit card fraud aspect of ID Theft.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office received a report from a Purlear man concerning credit card charges in his name.  The victim had received a "Retrieval Sales Draft Request" from Global Payments for a credit card with charges totaling over 3400 dollars.  The victim was told the card was through North American Bank.  The victim explained to Sheriff's Investigators that he had never applied for this credit card and had not authorized the card or any charges.  The victim is in contact with the Federal Trade Commission to report this ID Theft and to clear his name.  No suspects were listed with this report.  Then the Wilkes Sheriff's Department received another report from a Traphill resident.  This time the victim stated that they had received a credit card from Wells Fargo with a 3500 credit limit.  However, someone else has already maxed out the credit on the card.  Again the victim did not authorized the charges.  There is a suspect in this ID Theft case and charges are pending.  For more information on ID Theft and how to protect yourself, you may visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov

Mailbox Vandalisms

The Wilkes Sheriff's Office has also been called this week to investigate a couple of mailbox vandalisms.  The Wilkes County area periodically has reports of mailboxes being damaged, but it has been a while since any such reports came in.  Now this week, there are 2 different reports.  In the first, a Millers Creek property owner reported that their mailbox was damaged.  It appears that this mailbox was hit by a car, but apparently, no traffic accident was reported.  In the second incident, damages to a mailbox were reported by a resident on Eastwood Drive.  In this case, someone hit the box with a blunt object.  There are no suspects.

Vehicle Vandalisms

A couple of vehicles have received similar damages this week.  The investigations are being investigated by the Sheriff's Office and by Wilkesboro Police.  A Purlear woman reported that her car was damaged with a key or other sharp object while it was parked at the RHA building where she works.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating this incident.  Wilkesboro Police were called this week by Millers Creek resident.  The victim believes the tailgate of his truck was damaged while it was parked at Walmart.  Again, a sharp object was used to caused the damages estimated at 400 dollars.  Police are obtaining surveillance video from the store to try and determine the identity of a suspect.  

SAFE Face and No Beards

If you see any unshaven Wilkes County men wearing a SAFE Face button, then be sure to ask them about it and to donate to the cause.  During the campaign, participants give up shaving for 7 weeks and  solicit donations for SAFE or Sheltered Aid for Families in Emergencies as a way to stand against domestic and sexual assault.  SAFE says, one in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their lives.  One in six women will be sexually assaulted.  Proceeds from Face the Facts help SAFE provide free services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Learn more online at  www.safewilkes.org/beard

Sen Hagan Encourages Passage of VAWA

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan today praised Senate passage of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA), a life-saving bill that protects victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Since VAWA first passed in 1994, the incidence of domestic violence in the U.S. has decreased by 53 percent. The Senate bill strengthens and streamlines existing programs that protect women and incorporates new approaches, including Hagan’s Violence Against Women Health Initiative. “This reauthorization updates and improves VAWA to better protect women and children, and I’m pleased that it includes my provision to help health care providers treat and respond to violence and abuse," Sen Hagan said.  The bill passed by a vote of 78 to 22 and now goes to the House for a final vote.

American Indian Conference In NC

The 38^th North Carolina Indian Unity Conference will be held February 28-March 2^ndat the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons, Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro, North Carolina.  The Theme of the Conference is “Planting the Future from our Tradition Roots thru Healthy Eating”. The conference is held annually and is sponsored by United Tribes of North Carolina in collaboration with the NC Commission of Indian Affairs, Eight Indian tribes and four urban Indian Associations. The NC Commission of Indian Affairs will hold its quarterly meeting on February 28^th at the Convention Center, prior to the opening of the conference. The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum through which the American Indians can come together and address issues of concern and discuss strategic plan to address those issues. Like many other communities the American Indian community has Indian health, education, socio- economic, cultural and political issues that need to be address. The NC Indian Unity Conference is the only conference of its type in North Carolina and has for 38 years proven to be an effective venue to address public policy issues that affect American Indians and Indian communities.

Arrested For Intent to Kill

A Millers Creek man has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. According to a Wilkesboro Police report, a man was assaulted in the parking lot of Lowes Motel.  Police arrived and found the victim.  He explained how another man, Ernest Prevette, had started fighting with him over his ex-wife.  Prevette attacked the man with a mattock causing bruising to his back and shoulder.  The victim was able to get inside his vehicle, but Prevette then started hitting the vehicle until he broke out a window.  Prevette took off in his own vehicle before Police arrived.  Police interviewed the victim and witnesses before issuing a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Prevette.  The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office did locate Prevette and arrested on the open warrants of assault with a deadly weapon and damage to property.  He was placed in the Wilkes County Jail with a 100,000 dollar bond.

Wanted Man Arrested

A man wanted by North Wilkesboro Police was arrested this week in Wilkesboro.  The Wilkesboro Police received a call concerning a man with warrants for his arrest.  The caller said the man was at Walmart.  Wilkesboro Police arrived, saw a man matching the description, and detained him for questioning.  At first the man gave Police a fake name by using his brother's driver's license.  Officers with the North Wilkesboro Police Dept arrived and identified the man as being the one wanted for charges of indecent liberties with a child.  The man, Apolinar Gonzalez, was arrested and served with the open warrants for indecent liberties with a child.  He was also charged with giving false information to Police and driving without a license.  He was taken to jail and given a 126,000 dollar bond.

Parts and Truck Stolen/ Truck Recovered

Over 8000 dollars in vehicle parts were stolen from a residence in Wilkes and charges are pending against a list of suspects.  The victim called the Wilkes Sheriff's Office when he discovered the theft from his storage building on Weaver Road.  The building was forcibly entered and several things were taken.  The stolen property included 3 engine heads, 2 air compressor motors, an enclosed trailer, a vehicle intake, and a whole list of large engine and vehicle parts.  The thieves also stole a 1984 Ford Ranger Pickup.  Wilkes County Sheriff's Deputies did recover the stolen truck, and it is believed much of the stolen parts were sold for scrap.  A spokesperson at the Wilkes Sheriff's Office told 3WC News that they do have suspects in this case, warrants have been issued, and arrests are pending.

Stolen ATV in Wilkes

A Wilkes County victim who lives near Elkin has reported the theft of his 4-wheeler.  The property owner told Wilkes Sheriff's Deputies this week that he had his Suzuki Quadrunner covered with a tarp and parked beside his outbuilding.  The stolen Suzuki 4-wheeler is valued at 1000 dollars.  There are no suspects in the theft at this time; the Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating.