Residents in a Maxton neighborhood are hoping that a recent judge’s order will help restore peace in their community.
After years of ongoing criminal activity, which negatively affected local residents, a Superior Court Judge entered an order restricting use and activities on the property at 178 Jefferson Road in Maxton.
On Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, Judge Floyd entered the preliminary injunction that banned defendant Wallace Locklear from returning to the mobile home located on the property. The order prohibited all parties from violating any state or county laws until the final determination of the action. Any violation of this order was punishable by contempt of court.
Prior to this order, Superior Court Judge J. Gregory Bell issued a temporary restraining order that required the owners to abate all criminal activity. Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes defines “nuisance” activities, and provides a civil remedy to stop such criminal acts and the detrimental impacts they have on a community.
“The citizens living in this community have had to undeservingly endure the violence and noise associated with assaults, drug violations, and breaches of the peace occurring on this property,” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “We have tried to work with the owners of the property to solve these problems; however, our efforts have been unsuccessful.” According to Robeson County officials, the commencement of a civil nuisance lawsuit was a last resort to restore peace in the area.
Due to alleged violations of the judicial orders by defendant Wallace Locklear, a hearing was set before Judge Bell on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. After failing to appear at the hearing, an order for arrest was issued and subsequently served on Locklear. During his arrest, he was found in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Robeson County Detention Center and given a $500,000 cash bond for the failure to appear, and a $100,000 bond for the additional drug charges.
“ALE is committed to assisting local communities and other law enforcement agencies through the use of our Nuisance Abatement laws, which gives us a civil tool to use in eliminating problem establishments where traditional law enforcement methods have failed,” said ALE Assistant Special Agent in Charge M. Shoaf. The Robeson County Attorney’s Office, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Nuisance Abatement Team prepared the lawsuit.
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