LEWISTON – At least one man didn’t get to enjoy the fireworks here July 4.

That’s because he was incarcerated in the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail (BMRJ) following the assault of not one, but two men in separate incidents the same day.

Clarence Terrell Avery, 28, of 348 Pine Street in Lewiston, was charged with three felonies and five misdemeanors stemming from the assault of Willie McCoy Lee.

He was also charged with two misdemeanors for the assault of King Sessoms that same day, in the early morning hours of July 4.

Lee came to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) the afternoon of July 4 upon his release from the hospital.

He was treated there for three broken ribs that he claims were sustained during Avery’s assault.

According to a sworn testimony given by Lee, the assault began when Avery took a swing at him after accusing him of stealing some cigars.

&uot;The victim claims that when Terrell snuck the hit in on him, it knocked him to the ground. He said that Avery then started stomping him while wearing Timberland boots and began to beat on him about his face and shoulders and in his ribs,&uot; stated Detective Tommy Northcott of the BCSO.

He continued, &uot;He (Lee) said that while he was laying on the ground after being beaten, Avery came up and went in his pants pocket and stole an undetermined amount of money from him.&uot;

After that, Avery allegedly stripped off Lee’s shirt, shorts, shoes and ball cap, started a fire, and burned them.

Northcott verified that remains of burned clothing were found at the scene.

According to Lee, he jumped up and attempted to run away while Avery was burning the clothing, but Avery encountered him again on the porch of another residence and it was at that time that Avery pulled out a gun and pointed it at Lee.

&uot;He (Lee) said that he heard him (Avery) cock the hammer back on the gun. The victim said then that he jumped up off of the porch and ran. While he was running, he met up with one of the deputies, which was Sergeant Hoggard who had arrived on the scene,&uot; Northcott stated.

An unknown person within the trailer park had apparently called the BCSO while the incident was taking place.

Seeing Lee’s injuries, the Bertie County Rescue Squad was called and Lee was transported to Bertie Memorial Hospital.

Avery was charged the following day with the felonies of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and two counts of larceny from the person.

His misdemeanor charges were assault by pointing a gun, simple assault, injury to personal property, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

In an unrelated occurrence, Avery was also served with outstanding warrants obtained by King Sessoms for misdemeanor assault, stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred earlier that same day.

Two separate bonds were set of $30,000 and $5,000, both secured.

He appeared in court for one on July 5 and is scheduled to appear again today (July 19).

Northcott said Avery was held in the BMRJ until this Monday, when he made bond.