Larceny Case Solved in Vanceboro | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    On December 26, 2012, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a larceny that occurred at a mulch business on Highway 102 in Vanceboro, NC. The victim reported a large metal hopper and an electronic metering device were stolen. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, collected evidence, and conducted interviews. During the investigation, the metal hopper was recovered and returned to the victim.



    On January 10, 2013, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of three subjects attempting to sell a large metal hopper at a recycling business on Highway 17 in Vanceboro, NC. Deputies from the Patrol Division responded to the business and detained the suspects. Investigators determined the metal hopper was stolen from the same location of the larceny reported on December 26th. Investigators obtained a search warrant and executed it at a residence on Harding Street in Chocowinity. An electronic scale stolen from the business was recovered from the residence.



    On January 10, 2013, Investigator Wesley Waters arrested Seth Ray Simpkins, age 21, of Harding Street in Chocowinity, Charles Justin Bauer, age 18, of Pollard Road in Chocowinity, and Robert Wayne Smith, Jr., age 22, of Highway 33 West in Chocowinity. They were charged with one(1) count each of Felony Larceny and one(1) count of Attempted Obtaining Property by False Pretenses. They were held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on $10,000.00 secured bonds set by Magistrate David Curtis.

    On February 5, 2013, Investigator Waters applied for and obtained warrants charging Matthew Thomas Roughton, age 21, of the Pollard Road in Vanceboro, Charles Justin Bauer and Seth Ray Simpkins with one(1) count each of Felony Larceny and one(1) count of Attempted Obtaining Property by False Pretenses for the December 26th incident. Simpkins, Bauer, and Smith had posted bond from the January 10th arrest.

    On February 5, 2013, Simpkins was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $4,000.00 secured bond set by Magistrate Jasper Mills. On February 6, 2013, Roughton turned himself in at the Magistrate’s Office and was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $1,000.00 secured bond set by Magistrate David Curtis. On February 7, 2013, Bauer was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $5,000.00 secured bond set by Magistrate David Curtis.


    Major Kenneth Watson
      Beaufort County Sheriff's Office