Multiple Underage Drinking Defendant in Court Thursday

A Wilkes woman who has been charged multiple times for underage drinking and various driving offenses, and who was involved in a fight in late May that we reported about here on 3WC News, is scheduled to be in court this week to answer a total of 14 charges filed in the past year. Angela Cleary, who is now 20 years old, was pulled over by a Highway Patrol trooper once last year for driving while impaired and driving after underage consumption. The same trooper stopped Cleary three more times, for speeding, no drivers license, no insurance, no inspection sticker, a false tag, and reckless driving. She's been charged multiple times by Wilkes sheriff deputies and Wilkesboro Police for underage consumption, being drunk and disruptive, and underage possession. The list of charges culminates with the event in late may where she and James Greer got into a dustup at a home on Johnny Ayers Road. She faces an assault charge for her role in that incident, along with another charge of underage consumption and one of damage to real property, for breaking down a door at the home during the fight. Cleary is scheduled to make an appearance in Wilkes District Court Thursday at 9:30am. Greer is also scheduled to appear, to face a charge of damage to personal property, and one of assault on a female.

Woods Fire Near Wilbar Thursday

Firefighters from Wilbar, Millers Creek and the North Carolina Forest Service were called to a fire in the Woods near Wilbar Thursday night. The fire was reported about 6:35 last night, according to Wilkes County Communications. Andy Shumate tells me the fire took about 5 hours to fight, because it was back about 2 and a half miles off of old highway 16:

The fire charred about 2 acres.

Three Men Charged in Thefts of Cell Phones

A Millers Creek man has been arrested in connection with three separate break-ins at Advanced Electronics. 29-year old Andrew Joseph Shumate was arrested by Wilkesboro Police yesterday morning, and charged with multiple accounts of breaking and entering, the theft of 64 cellular phones, and multiple counts of damage to property. He was also charged with a count of fraud, for allegedly using his girlfriend's debit card in February to pay his cell bill.

The break-ins at Advanced Electronics happened on February 7th, April 28th, and May 7th. You've heard about all three here on 3WC News. In February, police say Shumate and another man, Todd Wyatt, threw a concrete block through the front door of the store and made off with seven phones. In April, police say Shumate and Wyatt were back at the store, again breaking out the front glass and this time stealing more than 25 phones worth an estimated 44-hundred dollars. In May, once again a block was thrown through the front window and investigators say the pair stole around 15 more phones.

The biggest break in the case came when a woman took one of the phones back to Advanced Electronics to be repaired. Its serial number came up as one of the ones stolen. The woman told police she had purchased the phone from someone at an event earlier this summer, where someone was set up in the camping area behind Windmere apartments, displaying a Cingular sign. She bought the phone for 100-dollars. Another break came when officers learned Bobby Moore had several of the phones and was trying to sell them, but telling the buyers they would not be able to get them serviced locally. Moore faces charges of possessing stolen property, after a search warrant was served on him during the investigation. An arrest record was not released by police in relation to the charges against Todd Wyatt.

More Thefts From Cars Blamed on Pair

Wilkesboro Police continue to connect a pair of men arrested Tuesday at Lowes Motel to a number of thefts from unlocked cars in the past several days. As we reported earlier today, police arrested Gary Wiles and Dean Madden in a room at Lowe's motel, after another reported theft from the motel parking lot. They found at least one cell phone and a number of credit and debit cards and belonging to several people in town. So far, either Wiles or Madden faces charges in connection with at least six similar thefts that occurred early in the week, many of which were not reported until police contacted the property owners to try and return their stuff.

In each instance, the owner says they'd left their car unlock or the windows down, and a purse, briefcase or wallet had been stolen. The thieves did not always take purses or briefcases very far, in some cases opening them up on the driveway right in front of the car and rifling them standing right there. There are a total of at least 8 victims. Wilkes and Madden were booked on drug charges and for the theft reported at Lowe's motel, and charges are continuing to be added as other cases are discovered. The locations of the thefts include Brook Street, Meadowood Lane, a business on East Main, a home on Curtis Bridge Road, North Moravian Street, and the motel. Police say they have not recovered all the stolen property, and they continue to work the cases.

Update on Attempted Strangulation

The decision as to whether to file charges in an assault case reported late last week in now in the hands of the District Attorney's office. Wilkes County Sheriff Department investigators say they have interviewed everyone involved with the domestic incident, and turned that information over to the D-A's office. The case, which we originally reported on 3WC News Monday, stems from a man, whose name still has not been released, allegedly dragging a woman around by the ankles, trying to strangle her, and causing several other injuries during repeated arguments last week. The 25-year old Taylorsville man has not been arrested yet, according to records available from the sheriff's office. They say the case is still under investigation.

Man Hurt in Skidder Accident

An accident yesterday just south of the Wilkes county line off Highway 16 South has left a man with severe injuries. Alexander county dispatch reports Wayne Shumate was working on a skidder in the woods and was ejected from the skidder during the accident, breaking his neck and causing other injuries. He was airlifted to Charlotte and underwent emergency surgery last night. Hosptial officials haven't released his current condition. Alexander county authorities say the sequence of events leading up to the accident isn't really clear.

Rash of Car Break-Ins in Wilkesboro

Wilkesboro Police are investigating several car break-ins, and have arrested two men in relation to two of the cases. Officers were called to Lowes Motel Tuesday afternoon by an unidentified woman who reported her work bag had been stolen from her car, then left before the officer could get her name. According to the woman, Gary Wiles told her he'd seen a man take the bag and run into the woods. However, a search didn't turn up any evidence to match that story. Instead, when officers searched Wiles' room, they found a number of other stolen items, including a cell phone, a satellite radio, and some credit and debit cards in other peoples' names. Wiles also eventually led them to the work bag, which was stashed under another vehicle in the parking lot. The woman looked through it, said nothing was missing, and disappeared. Wiles and the other man in the room, Dean Madden, were arrested for a variety of charges.

The cell phone and one of the debit cards recovered in the room belonged to Allison Baker, who had not reported her purse being stolen. When police went to return her property to her, she realized the purse had been taken, and several other credit and debit cards were missing. Wiles and Madden face charges in that case, as well.

Exotic Animal Bill Fails Again

A bill inspired by the death of a Wilkes County child has once again been relegated to the back burner. In the rush of 11th-hour lawmaking last week, a bill that would have banned private ownership of exotic animals took a quiet second trip to legislative purgatory.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Ed Jones, stuck the measure into an end-of-session study bill after the proposed ban drew intense criticism. State agriculture officials, agribusiness interests and a loose coalition of private zoo and sanctuary owners, reptile keepers and trainers who conduct animal education programs in schools, churches and other venues objected to the ban.

Backed by the Animal Protection Institute, a California-based animal rights group, the bill originally would have slapped a ban on a broad range of exotic animals for public health and safety reasons -- from lions and tigers to bats, pythons, monkeys and apes. Supporters said a ban is needed to protect people from disease and prevent tragedies such as the 2003 death of a Wilkes County fourth-grader who was mauled by a tiger kept in his aunt's backyard.

But critics of the bill said it reached well beyond the laudable goal of banning backyard ownership of tigers and other large carnivores by including restrictions that would have put small zoo owners and animal educators out of business.

Laura Renee Triplett Service Today

Family members say the funeral service for the woman killed in a murder-suicide two weeks ago will be today. Laura Renee Triplett will be remembered at a service at 3pm at Boiling Springs Baptist Church. Family will greet visitors starting a half-hour before the service. Triplett died after being shot by Bobby Hodges July 25th. Hodges then turned the gun on himself. The funeral has been delayed until the couple's 14-year old son was home from the hospital. He was also shot during the incident. A memorial fund has been set up to help the children, at State Employees Credit Union.

Air Conditioner, Medication Stolen

A health problem and a moment of inattention were apparently all it took for a Wilkes woman to be the victim of a crime. Yesterday afternoon, Patricia Porter called deputies to report the theft. She said she had gone home Tuesday night with a migraine and had apparently forgotten to lock the car on the way into the house, and left several items in the car. They included a window air conditioner, some medications, and a little cash. The total loss is just over one thousand dollars. She has no idea who might have taken the items. The case remains under investigation.