The United States Attorney's Office said in a motion filed in the federal court system it believes that conducting three detention hearings in groupings of five “would best promote judicial efficiency based on such considerations as commonality of evidence relating to the defendants.”
The groupings are as follows:
Group A:
1. Lann Tjuan Clanton
2. Ikeisha Jacobs
3. Jason Boone
4. Wardie Vincent Jr.
5. Cory Jackson
Group B:
1. Jimmy Pair Jr.
2. Curtis Boone
3. Thomas Jefferson Allen II
4. Alphonso Ponton
5. Tosha Dailey
Group C:
1. Adrienne Moody
2. Antonio Tillmon
3. Alaina Kamling
4. Kavon Phillips
5. Crystal Pierce
Meanwhile, the Ahoskie newspaper reported in its online edition Thursday night that Smith confirmed he terminated the employment of his deputies involved.
The five deputies fired were Jacobs, Jason Boone, Pair, Curtis Boone, and Allen.
“It’s certainly a sad day here; it’s sad when you hear of any law enforcement agency where the officers sworn to uphold the law are accused of breaking the law,” Smith said. “But I’m sworn to uphold the same laws, and when it comes to any of the officers I’m in charge of not abiding by state or federal laws, I will terminate their employment immediately.”
Another county employee – 911 Dispatcher Tosha Dailey – was also involved in the FBI sting operation. She works at the Northampton County Emergency Operations Center, meaning she is not under the auspices of the Sheriff.
On Thursday, Northampton County Emergency Management Director Ronnie Storey Jr. said the procedure of terminating a non-law enforcement employee is different than a deputy.
“There are procedures we have to follow; all I can say at this point is that process has started in the case of Tosha Dailey,” said Storey.
Smith said he cooperated fully with the FBI investigation.
“Even though this investigation began prior to me becoming sheriff here, that doesn’t make it any easier for me to deal with, to comprehend what led these deputies to put themselves in this position,” Smith noted.
The Sheriff added that while his staff is now short-staffed, he vowed to the county’s citizens that the level of protection will not be in jeopardy.
“The officers we have on our current roster are good, hard working deputies,” Smith said. “Our citizens deserve the best from their Sheriff’s Office. I promise to maintain a high level of professionalism within my office.”
As far as what measures he is now taking to fill the sudden departure of five deputies, Smith said that process began Thursday.
“We will advertise these positions,” he said. “I was looking through my files today and already have some applications on file; we’ll interview those potential candidates first. We also learned that a former deputy, who left us for another job, has stated he would come back. That’s a person already trained and ready to hit the road.”
Smith can also use the services of municipal police officers in the county.
“All but one of the municipal police officers in our county are sworn as reserve deputies. We can use them as necessary, if and when our regular deputies become bogged down with calls,” the sheriff said.
In the meantime, Smith said he has received calls of support from his peers in Hertford, Halifax and Warren counties.
“The sheriffs of those counties told me they have my back, and the backs of Northampton citizens, and said all I had to do was ask for assistance and they guaranteed it would be there,” Smith concluded.
