Man convicted of being a habitual felon
Published 3:11 pm Friday, August 3, 2018
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was convicted this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of two counts of felony attempted second-degree burglary and two counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering.
Justin Taylor Moss, 29, admitted his status as a habitual felon. Judge Anna Mills Wagoner sentenced him to a minimum of 67 months to a maximum of 93 months in prison.
On Oct. 15, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office responded to Brooks Link Drive in Rockwell to investigate a report of a breaking and entering. The caller said a window at the back of her residence was broken out and jewelry that did not belong to her was placed on the kitchen counter.
As deputies were investigating, Moss walked outside and told deputies that he didn’t think the resident’s boyfriend would have a problem with him staying there. Deputies spoke to a neighbor who said her home had been broken into.
The neighbor said two windows were damaged and jewelry was missing. That turned out to be the jewelry found in the first home.
Moss told deputies he had been taking drugs and awake for five days.
Moss has previous convictions for felony attempted common law robbery, felony assault by strangulation, and felony obtaining property by false pretenses, among others.
Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciates the joint efforts of Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office in holding Moss accountable for his criminal conduct.
Cook said her office identified Moss as a repeat offender at an early stage and his sentence was enhanced accordingly.