By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
GOLD HILL ó A Gold Hill family is charged in a series of burglaries that stretched across three counties starting in 2007.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Ronald Hargett and his wife, Lori, and three of their sons with multiple larcenies and breaking and entering.
Ronald Hargett, 48, of 234 Johnson Dairy Road, is charged with two counts of breaking and entering a boat, four counts of misdemeanor larceny, seven counts of felony breaking and entering a building, nine counts of felony larceny, possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of felony possession of burglary tools, two counts of possession of stolen goods and one count of felony larceny pursuant to breaking and entering.
Arrest reports reveal charges from Feb. 3, Sept. 16, Oct. 1, Oct. 2, Oct. 5, Nov. 5 and Nov. 12.
He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $55,000 secured bond.
Lori Hargett, 43, is charged with three counts of possession of stolen goods and two counts possession of a firearm by felon. An arrest warrant was issued for her on Nov. 11. She has since been released on a secured bond of $25,000.
One son, Michael Dean Hargett, 18, is charged with two counts of breaking and entering into motor vehicles, two counts of felony larceny and two counts misdemeanor larceny. An arrest warrant was issued for him on Nov. 11. He remains in the county jail under a $25,000 secured bond.
Another son, Christopher Shane Hargett, 20, is charged with two counts breaking and entering a boat, two counts felony larceny and one count misdemeanor larceny.
Arrest warrants were issued on Sept. 3, 2007, Sept. 16 and Oct. 1.
Hargett remains in the detention center under a $25,000 secured bond.
A third son, Jonathan Wayne Hargett, 23, is charged with three counts felony larceny. Arrest warrants were issued for Sept. 3, 2007, Sept. 16 and Oct. 5. Hargett is still in the county jail under a $25,000 secured bond.
According to Sheriff George Wilhelm, the family members were developed as suspects through an informant who saw them on a surveillance video. The informant saw stolen items at the family’s home, including an air conditioning unit taken from a local business.
In mid-September, someone broke into the Sofa Store, U.S. 52 in Rockwell. Catalytic converters were cut off a U-Haul and thieves destroyed several heating and air conditioning units behind the business.
The sheriff’s office’s computer system tracked various larcenies from a quarry on Artz Road, near Faith.
During the course of the investigations, detectives became aware of similar crimes in neighboring counties, a statement said.
The Hargett family became suspects in these cases. In February 2007, the family was suspected of being involved in the theft of four-wheelers from 12705 Bringle Ferry Road. That theft led to the arrest of two of the Hargett sons.
Investigators were able to link the Hargetts to a larceny of tools, which were later recovered, from Cabarrus County; a street motorcycle, also recovered, from Albemarle; larceny from Rockwell Sofa Store; and the theft of 42 fishing rods from Old Beatty Ford Road, Rockwell, which were recovered.
The family is also suspected in a break-in at H&M Wood Preserves on Zion Church Road, where tools and a computer were stolen and later recovered.
The statement said it is believed the family used a blue minivan during the crimes.
On Nov. 4, a search warrant was served at the Hargett home and two firearms were seized along with stolen property from Cabarrus, Stanly and Rowan counties.
The firearms were not reported stolen, but Lori and Ronald Hargett are both convicted felons and in violation of possessing weapons.
More arrests are expected.