Three Charged with Beating Inmate

Three murder suspects at the county detention center have been charged with beating another inmate.

Inmates Kenneth Wooten, Tallis Vereen and Julius Stephens all face charges of assault inflicting serious injury. Bond was set at $50,000 and each was returned to custody.

The three allegedly assaulted Thomas Hammonds, 58, Wednesday morning (today), the sheriff’s office reported. He was treated for minor injuries by medical staff at the detention center.

An internal investigation and interviews with staff indicated the men assaulted Hammonds for unknown reasons.

Wooten is awaiting trial for the 2023 murder of Michael Jason Scott. Vereen was arrested earlier this year for the murder of Ervin Hakeem Johnson of the Tabor City area. Stephens is awaiting trial for the 2022 shooting death of Willie Wheeler in Tabor City.

Hammonds was arrested last week on heroin and methamphetamine trafficking charges.