Commissioner Jon Barber Larceny Investigation Remains Open with the State Bureau of Investigation

RFP Staff

♦ William Sherill Barber III, known locally as Jon Barber, a Rowan County commissioner, is currently under an open and ongoing investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) for alleged larceny of government property. Mr. Barber’s case was origianlly sent by County District Attorney Brandy Cook in December to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys Financial Crimes Initiative, a group of county district attorneys from across North Carolina for independent review. After reviewing the case, the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys Financial Crimes Initiative forwarded the case to the SBI. Hal F. Askins, from the N.C. Attorney General’s Office – Division of Crime Control, replaced State Bureau of Investigation’s Sam Gregory who previously prosecuted and convicted Jon Barber for stealing a bottle of Wild Irish Rose from a Rushco convenience store in Salisbury.

Hal F. Askins is a highly regarded prosecutor and is reviewing the Jon Barber case alleged to be an estimated $1200 in color copies done over weeks in the early morning hours at the County Administration Building. It is not known at this time if unpaid for copies done at the Rowan Public Library will be included in the totals, bringing the value up even higher.

The SBI has not yet called for a Grand Jury for the Barber case.

Mr. Barber was previously convicted of two DUIs and the Rushco wine larceny. Several years ago he resigned from his teaching job at Southeast Middle school after he showed up intoxicated. He claimed at the time of his resignation he was leaving for “a better business opportunity”.

Mr. Barber now faces a potential charge of government larceny, a class H felony, possibly bringing up to 39 months in a state prison.

Articles about Mr. Barber’s previous difficulties with the legal system and the school system:

http://slspublish.bits.baseview.com/area/304234439935767.php

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/rowan-co-commissioner-accused-of-shoplifting/nGQ9Y/

http://www.bluenc.com/rowan-county-commissioner-gods-instrument

http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20110509/SP0501/305099979/0/SEARCH&slId=6

http://www.wect.com/story/12514902/teacher-accused-of-being-drunk-in-class-admits-hes-an-alcoholic

http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20110508/SP0101/305089991/

http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20110815/SP0101/308159989/

http://archive.salisburypost.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=2008/February/25/Area/102368.xml&start=1120&numPer=20&keyword=commissioners&sectionSearch=&begindate=1%2F1%2F1983&enddate=12%2F31%2F2009&authorSearch=&IncludeStories=1&pubsection=&page=&IncludePages=1&IncludeImages=1&mode=allwords&archive_pubname=Salisbury+Post%09%09%09

http://www.protectyourlegalrights.com/blog/2011/08/a-north-carolina-commissioner-and-wild-irish-rose.shtml

http://salisbury.wbtv.com/news/crime/67943-probation-jon-barber-shoplifting-conviction