Two men involved in a series of robberies in Bladen County late last year and earlier this year were sentenced to prison this week in Bladen County Superior Court.
Jerry Paul Britt Jr., 42, of Hallsboro, plead guilty to obtaining property by false pretense, felony possession of stolen goods and misdemeanor possession of stolen goods Wednesday under an agreement with the state. He was sentenced to a minimum of six months and a maximum of 17 months in state custody.
Tristan McRae Singletary, 32, of Bladenboro, plead guilty to three counts felony larceny Thursday under an agreement with the state. He was sentenced to a minimum of 16 months and a maximum of 38 months in state custody.
The men were ordered to pay more than $8,000 in restitution to the victims by Superior Court Judge Douglas B. Sasser.
According to a court summary of the case, between Nov. 30 and Dec. 31, Singletary stole several items from his father’s house, including a riding lawn mower, power drills, tools, ring, television, trailer hitch and tools, valued at about $7,700. Singletary was living at the house at the time. Britt pawned the items at several pawn shops in Bladen and Robeson counties, including Pawn South in Bladenboro.
In early January, Britt took part in the theft of a four-wheeler valued at about $5,000 from a residence on Zion Hill Church Road in Bladenboro. He tried to sell the vehicle, but never provided the title.
Britt and Singletary were arrested in March as part of an investigation into a larceny ring in Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties.
Bladen County Sheriff James A. McVicker said at the time of the arrests that stolen property had been recovered in excess of $20,000 from Bladen County and over $10,000 worth of property from the other jurisdictions.
About Author
