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By LANCE MARTIN

rrspin.com

A federal grand jury returned indictments charging three Northampton County men with various gun and ammunition offenses.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in a statement today Deryck Devon Bennett, 26, of Garysburg, was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

Rasean Bolden, 38, and Tyshawn Williams, 29, both of Rich Square, were charged with felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

If convicted, each man faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

In Bennett’s case, according to the indictment, around June 28 of last year he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of more than one year in prison but was in possession of a firearm and it was used to affect commerce.

Bennett is set for arraignment on October 20 and was denied release based on his previous criminal history; participation in criminal activity while on release or supervision; a history of weapon use; evidence of flight; prior instances of failure to appear in court; pending unrelated charges and outstanding warrants or similar criminal activity; and prior noncompliance with supervision, specifically noncompliance with electronic monitoring.

Bolden, who also goes by the name Donald Whitaker Jr., around August 14 of last year had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, while he knowingly possessed ammunition, and the ammunition was used in and affecting commerce.

Count 2 relates to a September, 2017 crime in which he knowingly possessed a firearm which was used in affecting commerce.

He has a September 8 arraignment and was also denied release, which was based on previous criminal history; and prior noncompliance with supervision.

Williams is set for arraignment on September 13 and was also denied release.

The factors for denying release in his case include a lengthy incarceration period; prior criminal history; participation in criminal activity while on supervision or release; a history of violence; a history of substance abuse; and the nature and circumstances of the offenses.

The two-count indictment says Williams had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowingly possessed a firearm, and the firearm was used in affecting commerce. The indictment reflects crimes committed in June and October of 2018.

The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office investigated and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting.

(Lance Martin is the Editor and Publisher of www.rr.spin.com. Permission was received to publish this story.)