Public Safety

An armed dealer in illegal drugs and guns will spend 17 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Samuel Arnette Jr., 43, pled guilty in June to possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm during drug activities,  U.S. Attorney G. Norman Acker III said in a press release. Sentencing was today (Nov. 4.) The Columbus...

William Dewayne Simmons will spend the rest of his life in prison for the slaying of Carlos David Alfonso Jr. Superior Court Judge Jim Hardin handed down the life sentence for murder and armed robbery today in Columbus County Superior Court. A Columbus County jury deliberated around an hour Wednesday before returning the verdict. Simmons, 21, was found guilty Wednesday of murdering and robbing Alfonso in September 2018....

Cocaine, oxycodone, and a stolen firearm were among the contraband seized after a traffic stop Monday. Charles Brown, 28, of 223 Old N.C. 211, Bolton, and Karlie Raelyn Brown, 23, of Leland, were stopped just before 11 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office. Charles Brown was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, driving while license revoked, and...