The bond just keeps getting higher for a 16-year-old student charged with bringing a gun and a pocketful of drugs to a Midway High School football game last Friday night.
On Tuesday afternoon, officials raised a misdemeanor possession of a firearm on educational property charge against Tyrone Antione Joyner, 16, of 1229 Charles Newland Road, Dunn, to a felony after Sheriff’s Detective J. Parsons discussed the matter with officials from the District Attorney’s office.
According to Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Pope, after that discussion, it was agreed that the charge should be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony because of the seriousness of the charge.
Joyner, who is listed as a student at an out-of-county high school, was reportedly in possession of eight Vicodin, six Xanax and 10 Darvocet pills at the time of his arrest Friday night. He was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance; possession of a firearm on school grounds/educational property; possession of drug paraphernalia; trafficking opium; and carrying a concealed weapon.
Sheriff’s reports show he had a Hi-Point .9mm at the ball game.
Initially, the teen was given a $15,000 bond by Magistrate C. Price; however, District Court Judge Moore “modified” the bond Monday, raising it to $50,000 secured.
“Court ran late Tuesday night, but I have talked with Judge Moore and he told me that the totality of the circumstances surrounding the incident were more serious than what it had first appeared,” said Sampson County assistant district attorney Robert Thigpen Wednesday. “Having a gun on a school campus and carrying drugs ...that is why he decided to raise it (the bond).”
Wednesday, Joyner was given an additional $10,000 secured bond for the new felony charge, making his total bond $60,000. His next trial date is Oct. 30.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.
SIStrumpet
But the first element of that crime is:
1 a person 21 years old or older.
That means that a 20 year old man can't get charged with this if he is selling crack at a high school!!!!
Another perfect example of how the middle man appears to be the bad guy!!!
I simply could not wait for you two inquisitive individuals to ask this very important question:
You see guys, Officer Farva himself was the deputy who charged Mr. Joyner with the above crimes. And yes, you are correct the charge should have been a felony. Let's get one thing straight however. There IS a such thing as misdemeanor possession of weapons on school grounds, but certain things have to be met before you can charge with a misdemeanor.
Let me reflect for a minute...................Ah, yes now I remember. You see the magistrate on duty was the one who would not give me the correct charge. As a matter of fact, before I voiced my opinion, the magistrate was actually going to let Mr. Joyner sign himself out because the boy's mother was waiting in the magistrate's office. When he told me this, I flipped my wig. Seriously? Guns and Drugs? That could mean FEDERAL time. And your just gonna let him go??? The kid was not going to kill himself because he was going to miss his Saturday morning Captain Crunch and cartoons!!!
So again, it is not the Sheriff's Office who fails you.......we do a DANG GOOD job!!! It is the system and the people who hold it's power that fail you time and time again.......
Bravo Judge Moore, Detective Parsons and D.A. Thigpen. It's nice to see that someone isn't scared to do their job!!!
And let me say this......It was not Mr. Jackie Dixon that was the magistrate that night you guys need to give him a break.......but you all know who it was.....