A Catawba County man pleaded guilty to sexual offenses with a child and was given an active prison term of 28 years last week. 29-year-old Derrick Allen Black of Hickory, entered a gulity plea on July 31st, to two counts of statutory sex offense with an 11-year-old child during Burke County Superior Court. Black's prison sentence will run concurrent to another conviction from Catawba County involving the same victim.

A Newton man will spend the next seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple criminal offenses and admitting his status as a habitual felon during Burke County Superior Court last week. 33-year-old Christopher Michael Martin of Newton, will spend seven to nine years in custody, after pleading guilty to two counts of felony larceny, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit larceny. His prison sentence was enhanced by his habitual felon status, which includes prior felony convictions for obtaining property by false pretense in Catawba County (November 2004), financial card theft in Charleston County (December 2007), and unlawful transport of firearms, a federal offense, in October 2011.

McDowell County sheriff's deputies are asking for the public's help in finding the culprits that broke into the Hankins-North Fork Fire Department over the weekend. It was reported on Saturday, that someone broke out a window, entered the building, at 3220 Hankins Road in Marion, and made off with a TV and chainsaw, and caused damage to a door and lock. The break-in occurred sometime between 10:45 Friday and 9:15am Saturday. Anyone with information concerning the crimes is asked to call Detective Paul Alkrie with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 652-CRIME (652-7463). You can also text tips to Crime Stoppers. Text MCDOWELLTIPS and your information to 274637 (CRIMES). With Crime Stoppers, you identity remains anonymous, and you could receive a cash reward.