Campus Crime Updates

By Amanda Hickey
Senior Staff Writer

Stalking and assault

James K. Benefild, 21, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor stalking and one count of assault on a female.

The Robeson County Sheriff's department arrived on campus Feb. 17 to arrest Benefild, and asked for Campus Police's assistance.

The officer "knew where he was located and knew his schedule, but just wanted an escort over to the building," said Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.

One victim was a student, the other was a campus employee, according to Locklear.

Gym bag stolen

Two gym bags were stolen from the Men's locker room in the Jones P.E. building on Feb. 17.

"The victim said he'd locked it, but when he came back [his stuff] wasn't there," said Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.  The victim had used a combination lock to close the locker.

There were two bags in the locker, a Nike bag and an East Bay bag.  They contained blue jeans, boots, Nike sandals, a wallet, a green sweater and a cell phone, according to Locklear.
           
There are no suspects in the case.

Non-Student charged with trespassing

Emanuel Stephens was charged with trespassing and banned from campus on Feb. 14.

Stephens claimed to be visiting his girlfriend on campus.  However, the female said that he was an ex-boyfriend who wouldn't let her break things off, said Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.

Stephens was escorted off campus and was back an hour later.  Stephens was charged with trespassing and banned from campus.

Stephens was caught on campus Feb. 16 and was again charged with trespassing.

Students caught sneaking into cafeteria

On Feb. 15, a student was charged on the state level for defrauding an innkeeper and two others were charged for unauthorized entry into the cafeteria.

The students went through the side door, got food and had sat down to eat when the officer approached them, according to Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.  If the students had eaten the food, they would have been charged with Larceny.

Since Campus Police have been in the cafeteria, six individuals have received state and campus charges and two have received only campus charges.

Pocketbook stolen from GPAC

A purse was stolen from the couch in GPAC on Feb. 17.

The purse contained the victim's wallet, keys, identification and credit cards, according to Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.

Every day the student puts her purse on the couch and has always felt comfortable doing so, but that day she went back to the couch and it was missing, said Locklear.