Four Charged in Buncombe County "Theft Ring"

Buncombe County -- March 21, 2024: The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office has been conducting an investigation over 
the past month.

Five warrants were served which resulted in the recovery of $47,197 worth of stolen property. Five stolen motorcycles, three trailers were recovered, and 151 grams of marijuana during one search. 

Four people have been charged in a theft ring.

From the press release:

The onset of this investigation was a single stolen motorcycle on February 17th. The ringleader of the thefts, Adam Scott Norton, is a repeat offender and was released from prison for stealing a motorcycle and running a chop shop back in 2021.

Adam Scott Norton is now facing 15 criminal charges:

Possession of a Firearm by Felon
Felony Conspiracy
Five Counts of Possession of Stolen Goods
Two Counts of Larceny of Motor Vehicle
PWIMSD Marijuana
Maintain Vehicle/Dwell/Place CS
Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia
Injury to Personal Property
Felony Larceny
Alter/Remove/Deface Serial Numbers

James Colton Bell has been charged with:

Aid & Abet Larceny
Felony Conspiracy
Five Counts of Possession of Stolen Goods
Alter/Remove/Deface Serial Numbers

Ronald Edward Franklin has been charged with:
Possession of a Firearm by Felon

Amy Jean Penland has been charged with:

Aid & Abet Larceny
Felony Conspiracy

“Thank you to our Detectives for expanding this investigation and pursuing leads for the past month in order to recover this stolen property,” says Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

WNCTimes