A third arrest has been made in connection with the October 12 outage that damaged Spectrum and Brightspeed fiber-optic lines along Old Morganton Road near Pine Lawn Cemetery in Southern Pines, according to Sheriff Ronnie Fields.
Sheriff’s investigators have charged Charles James Donnelly, 44, of Hoke County, with two counts of felony injury to utility wire, felony conspiracy, and felony attempted larceny. Donnelly was taken to the Moore County Detention Center without bond and is scheduled to appear in Moore County District Court on November 12.
This latest arrest follows the earlier arrests of Mitchell Leighton Campbell, 43, and Mario Termain Dockery, 44, both of Hoke County. Campbell faces charges of three counts of felony injury to utility wires, felony conspiracy, and felony attempted larceny. Dockery is charged with felony accessory after the fact to injury to utility wires. Both men remain in the Moore County Detention Center without bond and are scheduled to appear in court on November 13.
Sheriff Fields said the scene along Old Morganton Road was consistent with an attempted wire theft. While the motive was determined to be theft, the incident caused widespread disruption to communications and internet services across parts of Moore County.
The Sheriff’s Office coordinated with multiple law enforcement agencies during the investigation, including the Pinebluff Police Department, Candor Police Department, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Anson County Sheriff’s Office. Additional arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
The case falls under North Carolina’s Protect Critical Infrastructure Act, sponsored by Sen. Tom McInnis, which increases penalties for damaging or attempting to damage communications and utility systems.
This is the second major wire theft investigation in recent months in Moore County that has led to criminal charges and widespread service disruptions. Officials say the cases highlight a growing regional problem and the serious penalties such crimes now carry.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 947-2931.
Any person facing charges is innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty in court.
