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Crime Spree Turned Upside Down
Crime Spree Turned Upside Down 
In the early morning hours of April 4, 2022, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the area of Old Gilberttown Road, Rutherfordton, in reference to suspicious subjects in the area. While patrolling the vicinity, a deputy spotted a Dodge truck driving without any lights on. The deputy turned around on the truck and found it in a ditch flipped upside down. The occupants were helped out of the vehicle and aid was provided to those in need.
Deputies learned that the truck had just been stolen from a residence on Old Gilberttown Road. The occupants were Joel Ethan Stone, age 20, and two juveniles, ages 14 and 16. A firearm was also located during the search of the Dodge truck. Deputies learned that earlier this same night, Joel Stone and the juveniles were involved in another larceny of a motor vehicle, where the victim heard two gunshots come from his vehicle as he was trying to stop the suspects from stealing it. This occurred on Sterling Street in Spindale, prior to the larceny of the Dodge truck.
The Rutherford County Criminal Investigation Division responded to assist. During the course of the investigation, the juveniles were linked to cases dating back to February 21, 2022 that had been reported to Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, detectives with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and Department of Juvenile Justice.
In partnership with the Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and Department of Juvenile Justice, cases were solved from Old Gilberttown Road, Whiteside Road, Old Ballpark Road, Hunting Drive, Railroad Avenue, Rutherford Regional Hospital, South Ridgecrest Avenue, Freeman Street, Maple Street, and Ellington Street. From the solving of these numerous cases, two adults and two juveniles have been charged with multiple criminal acts.
Joel Ethan Stone, a 20-year-old male, has been charged with two counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, three counts of Break/Enter a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, and Assault With a Deadly Weapon.
Abbigale Faith Buckner, a 19-year-old female, was charged with two counts of Break/Enter a Motor Vehicle and Misdemeanor Larceny.
A 16-year-old juvenile has been charged with 27 counts of Break/Enter Motor Vehicle, five counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, 10 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny/ Felony Larceny, and two counts of Injury to Personal Property.
A 14-year-old juvenile has been charged with 22 counts of Break/Enter Motor Vehicle, five counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, 10 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny/Felony Larceny Charges, and two counts of Injury to Personal Property.
This also resulted in the recovery of three stolen firearms.
Stone and Buckner are in custody at the Rutherford County Detention Center and both juveniles are in secured custody of Department of Juvenile Justice.
Deputies learned that the truck had just been stolen from a residence on Old Gilberttown Road. The occupants were Joel Ethan Stone, age 20, and two juveniles, ages 14 and 16. A firearm was also located during the search of the Dodge truck. Deputies learned that earlier this same night, Joel Stone and the juveniles were involved in another larceny of a motor vehicle, where the victim heard two gunshots come from his vehicle as he was trying to stop the suspects from stealing it. This occurred on Sterling Street in Spindale, prior to the larceny of the Dodge truck.
The Rutherford County Criminal Investigation Division responded to assist. During the course of the investigation, the juveniles were linked to cases dating back to February 21, 2022 that had been reported to Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, detectives with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and Department of Juvenile Justice.
In partnership with the Rutherfordton Police Department, Spindale Police Department, and Department of Juvenile Justice, cases were solved from Old Gilberttown Road, Whiteside Road, Old Ballpark Road, Hunting Drive, Railroad Avenue, Rutherford Regional Hospital, South Ridgecrest Avenue, Freeman Street, Maple Street, and Ellington Street. From the solving of these numerous cases, two adults and two juveniles have been charged with multiple criminal acts.
Joel Ethan Stone, a 20-year-old male, has been charged with two counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, three counts of Break/Enter a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, and Assault With a Deadly Weapon.
Abbigale Faith Buckner, a 19-year-old female, was charged with two counts of Break/Enter a Motor Vehicle and Misdemeanor Larceny.
A 16-year-old juvenile has been charged with 27 counts of Break/Enter Motor Vehicle, five counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, 10 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny/ Felony Larceny, and two counts of Injury to Personal Property.
A 14-year-old juvenile has been charged with 22 counts of Break/Enter Motor Vehicle, five counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, 10 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny/Felony Larceny Charges, and two counts of Injury to Personal Property.
This also resulted in the recovery of three stolen firearms.
Stone and Buckner are in custody at the Rutherford County Detention Center and both juveniles are in secured custody of Department of Juvenile Justice.
Address/Location
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office
198 N Washington St
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 828-287-6247
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