Following a two-day jury trial, Roy Lynn Moose, Jr. of Salisbury was convicted by a jury this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses and one count of misdemeanor larceny. The jury found Moose Jr. not guilty of one count of felony breaking and/or entering. Judge Joseph N. Crosswhite sentenced Moose in each felony count to a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 17 months suspended and placed him on supervised probation for a period of 5 years.

Moose was ordered to comply with the conditions of probation, including pay court costs and restitution in the amount of $1902.05, provide a DNA sample, successfully complete community service, along with no contact with the victim and remain away from the residence. Each felony count was ordered to run consecutive should Moose’s probationary sentence be activated. Following sentencing, Moose appealed his convictions for review by the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

On Jan. 4, 2014, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to White Road in reference to a possible burglary that occurred on Jan. 2, 2014. The homeowner stated he had not been living at the house but stopped by almost every day to check on it. The homeowner stated Moose used to live in the house but had moved out in June and the locks were changed at that time. On Jan. 2, 2014, the homeowner saw Moose’s truck backed up to the porch of the house. A pad lock to a bedroom had been broken and wiring had been pulled out from the outlets. Antique wood planters, a cast iron, a well pump and tank had been stolen. The homeowner confirmed with TH Davis Enterprise that Moose had just left the business and had sold to them a tank and copper wire.

Deputies located Moose, who admitted to taking the breaker box and the copper wiring. He admitted to breaking the padlock and believed since he had lived there and had paid for half of the breaker box, he was entitled to the property. He also admitted to taking the well pump and tank.

District Attorney Brandy Cook stated that she appreciated the work of Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler preparing the case for trial. Cook praised the thorough investigation conducted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department.