By Doug Clark

Assistant Editor

A Roseboro man has been linked to three unsolved crimes dating back to November and December 2008 after investigators used DNA analysis to put him at the scene of each crime.

Craig Delon Simmons, 46, of 333 Old Mintz Highway, Roseboro, was charged with three counts of breaking and entering; three counts of larceny after breaking and entering; and three counts of possession of stolen goods.

According to reports from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Simmons’ DNA was linked to three separate crimes in Roseboro.

“There was blood found at the crime scenes, and blood samples were taken from each one,” said Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton.

The DNA evidence was sent to the State Bureau of Investigation lab but, the sheriff said, because of a backlog of cases there, it took some time to have analyzed.

“But we got it back and were able to make the arrest.”

Simmons was linked to the Dec. 4, 2008 breaking and entering and larceny of the Roseboro Community and Nutrition Center, located at 101 West Pleasant St., Roseboro, where a television and DVD player were stolen. There was also $365 damage to the building as a result of the incident.

The DNA also linked him to the Nov. 13, 2008 break-in at Roseboro Auto Sales, 102 East N.C. 24, Roseboro, where $835 cash, as well as $800 worth of damage, was done to an exterior door.

And that same evidence linked Simmons to the Nov. 20, 2008 breaking and entering of a private residence on West Clinton Street, Roseboro, where a television and DVD player was taken.

Simmons was arrested and charged with the crimes after results from DNA evidence was returned to Sampson County Sheriff’s investigators a little over a week ago.

The suspect was picked up May 5, after a deputy spotted Simmons, who was wanted for a larceny on West North Street that took place just days before (on May 1), coming out of Kerr Drug Store, 218 North West St., Roseboro. When the deputy stopped Simmons, he allegedly had five bottles of 5-hour energy drink in his possession. A manager at the store followed him out and notified the officer that Simmons had just taken the drinks without paying for them. He was arrested immediately.

While Simmons was in the Sampson County Detention Center on that charge, the DNA results came back from the SBI.

“We cannot do anything without getting results back from them (SBI),” noted Thornton. “But it makes us feel good to make an arrest like this. There will be more because we have other cases that go back a few years that we are waiting on, and we will make more arrests, too.”

In fact, Jimmy Wayne Reaves, 24, of 2613 Crystal Springs Drive, Fayetteville, was arrested last week after investigators linked DNA evidence to him in a crime that dated back to January 2009.

“Just because an arrest is not made that year or that week, it doesn’t mean we are not working the case,” the sheriff stressed. “We have an up-to-date local fingerprint database to make sure we can keep those prints on record. We are really proactive when it comes to solving these crimes. We want criminals to know that we are out here working every case.”

Simmons was placed under a $45,000 secured bond and given a trial date of May 21.

According to the N.C. Department of Corrections, Simmons has a history of convictions dating back to February 1990. Those convictions include: larceny and breaking and entering (February 1990); driving with license revoked, DWI level 3 and reckless driving (December 2002); assault on a female and simple assault (April and June of 2004); two counts of larceny (May 2005); larceny and felony breaking and entering (April 2006); habitual misdemeanor assault (April 2006); and larceny and resisting police officer (July 2009).

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.