05/12/2026
*** Arrests Made in Ongoing Wave of Heating and Air Conditioning Thefts ***
Media Release: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge has announced an ongoing wave of thefts affecting churches and businesses across the East Rockingham Community in Richmond County. Victims include Abundant Life Christian Ministries Church on School Street, First Pentecostal Holiness Church on Hannah Pickett Ave., Community Church on Mill Road, Sound Doctrine Fellowship Church on Mill Road, and Tabernacle Full Gospel Baptist Church on Airport Road.
Furthermore, the Family Dollar Store on Airport Road and the Community Center Building on Mill Street have also been targeted. Deputies and investigators acted swiftly and, through diligent efforts, successfully made two arrests on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Samuel Russell Smith II, 31, of Seaboard Street, Rockingham, was arrested at approximately 2:00 a.m. Monday, after deputies responded to The Community Center at 166 Mill Street, Rockingham, for an active breaking and entering. Upon arrival, deputies found Smith inside a fenced enclosure containing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Smith attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. He was charged with felony possession of burglary tools, felony attempted larceny, felony injury to real property to obtain nonferrous metals, and misdemeanor injury to personal property.
He was processed and booked into the Richmond County Jail with no bond, as required by the North Carolina Pretrial Integrity Act.
Curtis Daniel Hicks, 23, of 130 Spivey Street, Rockingham, was apprehended Monday evening by sheriff’s investigators from the Property Crimes Unit and Community Impact Team. His arrest was the result of an extensive investigation into the recent string of thefts in the area. The charges against Hicks relate to theft and damage at Sound Doctrine Fellowship Church, 342 Mill Road, Rockingham. Between May 2 and May 9, 2026, the church’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system was damaged, and several components were stolen. Hicks was subsequently arrested and booked into the Richmond County Jail without bond, as required by the Pretrial Integrity Act. His charges include felony injury to real property to obtain nonferrous metals, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen property, felony conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses, and felony obtaining property by false pretenses.
He is also charged with an additional count of felony injury to real property to obtain nonferrous metals, felony larceny, and felony possession of stolen property following the damage and theft of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system from Family Dollar Store on Airport Road that occurred between May 6 and May 11, 2026.
The North Carolina Pretrial Integrity Act limits a magistrate's authority to set bail for repeat offenders and defendants charged with high-level felonies, making release discretionary and requiring a judge's intervention.
Key Provisions of the Act
Repeat Offense Rule: If a defendant is arrested for a new offense while already on pretrial release for a pending case, a judge (rather than a magistrate) must set the conditions for release within the first 48 hours. If no judge acts within 48 hours, a magistrate may then step in.
High-Level Felonies: The law removed the ability of magistrates to set bail for an expanded list of 18 serious, violent offenses (including murder, r**e, kidnapping, and armed robbery). For these charges, only a judge can determine whether a defendant is released, and the judge has the discretion to deny pretrial release entirely.
Juvenile Secure Custody: The law authorizes 30-day hearings for 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old juveniles charged with Class A felonies to review the ongoing need for secure custody.
"While these arrests represent a major step forward, our investigations are far from over," said Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge. "We are committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring that all individuals responsible are brought to justice."
Investigators ask anyone with knowledge of these crimes to call Richmond County Crime Stoppers at (910) 997-5454 or use the P3 Tip app. Anonymous tips are accepted and could lead to a monetary reward.
In our justice system, every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The information in this post does not express an opinion regarding anyone's guilt. The views and opinions of private citizens who may comment on this post do not represent this law enforcement agency's official policy or position.
The Sheriff's Office does not set bond amounts. Instead, bonds are set by a judicial official, such as a judge or magistrate, in accordance with N.C. General Statute 15A-532. Several factors are considered when determining bond amounts.
