Photo by Doug Clark
Lacy Phipps, left, and his son, Reece, right, are pictured by the elaborate gallows display in Phipps’ front yard earlier this year. Both have trespassing charges against them. Phipps was taken into custody and released the same day; Reece Phipps hasn’t been located yet.
Assistant Editor
Lacy Phipps, a self-proclaimed proponent of the first amendment, was arrested by Duplin County Sheriff’s deputies late last month for second degree trespassing and injury to personal property.
According to Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace, the 83-year-old Phipps was taken into custody on Oct. 23 for an incident where Phipps and his son, Reece, were located on their neighbor’s property pulling out “posts” and “stumps” from the land.
Phipps, who lives at 786 Warren Road, Faison, has claimed in a previous interview that the land “across the street” belongs to him and that it was “taken away” from him in a long-running dispute with local officials.
District attorney Dewey Hudson stated in an interview earlier this year that the land wasn’t taken away, it was turned over by Phipps because he didn’t pay taxes on it.
“ ... He is consumed with hate and anger over losing some of his land years ago. He blamed everyone for losing his land,” Hudson said in the interview. “Well, he lost his land because he didn’t pay back the loan. This has been going on for years now; the lesson in all of this is that this is what can happen when you allow your life to be consumed with hate.”
Phipps had already hung an elaborate gallows display in his front yard, with hanging mannequins labeled with the names of government officials, including Hudson and Wallace.
On Thursday, Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace said that the charge was made after his office completed a full investigation of the incident. He emphasized that the charges are in no way related to the gallows display Phipps has. One of those mannequins is labeled Blake Wallace; it is hanging from a noose. Another has Hudson’s name on it.
“We were called out by the property owners and investigated it,” said Wallace of the eventually charges. “Mr. Phipps and his son were on the property with a back hoe and pulling out posts ... He was arrested and made bail the same day; that is pretty much it.”
Wallace said there were also warrants taken out against Phipps’ son Reece the same day; however he still has not been taken into custody.
“Right now, we still have the outstanding warrants on Reece,” said Wallace. “We just haven’t been able to locate him yet.”
Lacy Phipps will have a trial date of Dec. 14.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.
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