Three people were convicted of being habitual felons in court this week.
Habitual felons are defendants who have had at least three prior, non-overlapping felony convictions for unrelated offenses.
Bobby Glenn Locklear Jr. was sentenced to a minimum of nearly eight and a half years and a maximum of more than 10 years in prison after admitting his status as being a habitual felon.
Locklear pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm and larceny, all felonies.
In 2008, Collision Service Investigators reported a breaking and entering at their business and that a vehicle and gun had been stolen.
The Salisbury Police investigated the case and the SBI lab results confirmed Locklearís fingerprints matched the prints recovered on the vehicle.
In 2009, Air, Land & Sea pet shop reported someone stole an expensive bird from the store. The Salisbury Police received information that Locklear stole the bird and he later confessed to stealing the bird.
If Locklear was not prosecuted as a habitual felon by the District Attorneyís Office, he could have received as little as a 12 month active prison sentence, a statement said.
Darren Wayne Heffner received a minimum of nearly six years and a maximum of nearly eight years in the N.C. Department of Correction after pleading guilty to felony drug offenses.
Heffner was arrested after a successful undercover operation by the Rowan County Sheriffís Office and the Stanly County Sheriffís Office. On two separate occasions, Heffner sold hydrocodone to an undercover officer.
Eddie Preston Brown received a minimum of nearly six years and a maximum of nearly eight years in the N.C. Department of Correction after pleading guilty to felony drug offenses.
Brown was arrested after selling oxycontin pills during an undercover buy operation with the Rowan County Sheriffís Office.
ěThe results of these cases demonstrated (the DAís) officeís firm commitment to aggressively prosecuting habitual felons and removing these repeat offenders from our community with lengthy prison sentences,î Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said in a statement.