News

Six convicted, sent to prison

By Bill Moss, Published: July 3, 2014

District Attorney Greg Newman reported that four defendants pleaded guilty to felonies and received active prison sentences in Henderson County Superior Court during the administrative term of June 23-24. Two more accused felons were convicted in Polk and Transylvania counties and given active prison terms.

 In Henderson County:

• Kendall Angram pleaded guilty to being an Habitual Felon and was sentenced to an active prison sentence of 51-74 months;
• Justin Pate pleaded guilty to Child Abuse Causing Serious Bodily Injury and was sentenced to an active prison sentence of 73-100 months;
• Byron Merritt pleaded guilty to First Degree Burglary, four charges of Breaking and Entering, four cases of Larceny, six cases of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses, four charges of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and charge case of Possession of Methamphetamine and received an active prison sentence of 76-123 months;
• Jeremy Lynch pleaded guilty to being an Habitual Felon and was sentenced to an active prison sentence of 51-74 months;

Superior Court Judge Mark Powell was the sentencing judge. Prosecutors were Newman and Assistant District Attorneys Doug Mundy and Doug Pearson.

In Polk County, Javier Lopez pleaded guilty to one case of First Degree Rape. Judge Powell sentenced Lopez to 240-348 months in prison. The state was represented by Assistant Attorney General Nancy Vecchia, who was assigned the case by District Attorney Newman.

After a Transylvania County jury convicted Harley David Hamlin of larceny and being a Habitual Felon, Superior Court Judge William Coward handed down an active prison term of 100-132 months. Prosecutors said Hamlin broke into the First United Methodist Church in Brevard and stole Ingles gift cards belonging to the church. He then used and pawned the gift cards in Henderson County less than 24 hours following the theft. Detective Steve Woodson was the lead police officer in the case. The state was represented at trial Newman and Assistant District Attorney Nikki Shaffer.