District Attorney Maureen Krueger announces that on Wednesday, the District Attorney’s office concluded a jury trial in which a Moore County jury found defendant Russell Rufus McLaughlin guilty of all counts lodged against him.
McLaughlin was convicted of felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods. Because of McLaughlin’s prior criminal history, he was also convicted of habitual breaking and entering. As part of the Justice Reinvestment Act, The North Carolina General Assembly created a new offense of habitual breaking and entering in order to increase the punishment for repeat offenders.
After the verdicts were returned, Judge Tanya Wallace, the Superior Court Judge presiding, sentenced McLaughlin to 44 months minimum 65 months maximum in prison.
On March 29, 2017, the Moore County Sheriff’s Department received a call about an overnight break in at the Tommy’s Crown gas station on 15-501. Deputies responded to the crime and it was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division. That investigation resulted in the felony charges being lodged against McLaughlin.
The District Attorney’s Office worked closely with members of the Moore County Sheriff’s Department to bring this case to trial. Lt. Brock Holder was the case agent and shared the prosecution table with Assistant District Attorney Peter Strickland during the trial this week.
