Man sentenced to 66-92 months for West End break-in

On Jan. 24, Marco Cheatham pleaded guilty to breaking and entering to terrorize, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and to the status of being a habitual felon.

These charges were filed after an incident in the 100 block of Walker Street in West End around 2 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2023. This location is the home of the male victim. In a news release, Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardin said that Cheatham and the man were acquaintances, having lived in the same area most of their lives, but they did not know each other well.

On several occasions in 2023, the man noticed Cheatham parking his vehicle and sitting inside it on his property. The man had asked Cheatham not to park on his property; however, on the evening of Sept. 12, 2023, Cheatham once again parked his vehicle on the property. When the man arrived home from work around 7 p.m., he asked Cheatham to leave again, said Hardin. Cheatham complied with the request and left the area. 

“Approximately seven hours later, Cheatham came back to the man’s home and kicked in the front door and entered his residence,” said Hardin. “The man was alone with his dog and watching TV. Cheatham waved a semi-automatic handgun around and told the man he did not like the way he spoke to him earlier that evening. The man was terrified, and Cheatham yelled a little more at him and then left in a vehicle. He immediately dialed 911, and Moore County Sheriff’s deputies and Taylortown Police officers responded to the location but could not locate Cheatham.”

The crime scene was processed, and warrants were obtained for Cheatham’s arrest. The warrants were served the next day, and Cheatham was found to be in possession of a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun at that time. Cheatham was charged by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office for possession of firearm by a convicted felon, which was later adopted and indicted by the United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, where Cheatham has already entered a guilty plea and will be sentenced on Feb. 19 in federal court.

Judge Jessica Locklear sentenced the Cheatham in Moore County court to 66-92 months in the Department of Adult Corrections. The upcoming federal sentence is expected to add additional time in prison for Cheatham. Assistant District Attorney Brian Chapman prosecuted the case.

File photo: Moore County Superior Courtroom sign/Sandhills Sentinel.

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Contributed article/Marco Cheatham’s arrest photo was not provided.