The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of copper wire and plumbing material from the building that used to be Tommy’s Market at the corner of Qualla and Tusquittee Rd.  A report was filed Tuesday, January 10^th, 2012 after the contractor discovered a basement window had been broken and electrical wiring had been cut in various places along with missing copper tubing from the buildings cooling system.  There doesn’t appear to be a substantial amount of material stolen however, the cost of replacement is what makes a crime such as this so costly for the property owner.  The building is owned by Nantahala Bank and has hired a contractor to restore and make general repairs to the building.  Anyone that may have any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Clay County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, Tony Ellis or Todd Wingate, at (828) 389-6354.

On January 15^th, 2012 Ricky Larry Patterson, 56 year old man, of Dairy Way in Hayesville was arrested for Misdemeanor Breaking and Entering.  Clay County Deputies were called out Sunday to the residence of Kayla Stephens who reported that her residence had been forcibly entered when Patterson kicked the front door in to her home.  Stephens stated that she was awakened that morning to the sound of someone pounding on her bedroom window.  She stated that as she was getting out of the bed the front door of the residence was kicked open and Patterson, her landlord, forced his way into the home and confronted Stephens in her bedroom where she was only dressed in her underclothes.  Patterson was yelling and screaming at Stephens, who was home alone at the time, demanding to know where her boyfriend was.  It is unknown why Patterson was making these demands but Patterson left the residence when the boyfriend was not found. 

Deputies at the scene found evidence of the forced entry to the home where the deadbolt had been broken through the doorjamb and a boot print on the outside of the door.  Deputies also found where Patterson had shut off the propane to the residence, which is the home source of heat.  Patterson was later brought before Magistrate Merlin Ledford where he was served with an arrest warrant for his charge and given a $1,000.00 unsecured bond then released on his own recognizance.  Patterson has an April 26^th court date.

Todd C. Wingate, Investigator

Clay County Sheriff's Office

295 Courthouse Dr.

PO Box 720

Hayesville, NC 28904

Office; (828) 389-6354

 Murphy, NC— On January 05^th, 2012 Dawn Marie Cannon, a 44 year old Murphy North Carolina woman, was arrested on indictments issued from the January 04^th 2012 Grand Jury sitting. 

 Dawn Marie Cannon became a person of interest during an investigation conducted by Investigator Tiffany Holland of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Division. Investigator Holland was able to identify Cannon as suspect in sexual assaults involving a minor child who was more than six years younger than Cannon at the time of the assaults. During the investigation information was revealed there was more than one occasion that Cannon had engaged in illegal sexual conduct with the minor child. The initial disclosure to law enforcement was provided through information gained from the Cherokee County Schools.

 Dawn Marie Cannon is currently out on a $15,000.00 unsecure bond and is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County Superior Court in March of this year.