Two fugitives wanted in connection with a July roundup along with two other individuals wanted on outstanding warrants were recently located in Florida and have been returned to Carter County to face charges.
A drug roundup conducted on July 20 netted 18 arrests for the Carter County Sheriff’s Office but after the roundup was completed officers were still searching for four individuals. The Sheriff’s Office released the names of the wanted individuals along with a request for the public to help them locate the suspects. Among the four individuals still being sought by the CCSO were James Townson, 42, of Roan Mountain, and Jonathan Beam, 42, of Newland, N.C.
Officers were also searching for Elsie Johnson, also known as Elsie Clawson, 46, of Roan Mountain, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant issued in connection with a theft investigation.
“Investigators with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office tracked the three to Flagler County, Florida, after learning that they were staying in that area with another wanted fugitive from Carter County, identified as Simon Clawson,” Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford said on Wednesday. “After receiving information as to the exact whereabouts of the four wanted individuals, Carter County Investigators worked with deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to apprehend them. After being arrested in Florida, the four were returned to Carter County early Monday morning and booked into the Carter County Jail.”
• James Townson — was arrested on an indictment charging him with two counts of sale of Schedule II drugs (methamphetamine). He is currently being held in the Carter County Detention Center under a $30,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County Criminal Court on Nov. 21 to be arraigned.
• Jonathan Beam — was arrested on a warrant charging him with fabricating or tampering with evidence, simple possession of Schedule II drugs (Oxycodone), and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned in Carter County General Sessions Court on Tuesday and Judge Keith Bowers Jr. scheduled him to return to court on Oct. 18.
• Elsie Johnson — was arrested on a warrant charging her with theft of property over $500. She was arraigned in Carter County General Sessions Court on Tuesday and Judge Keith Bowers Jr. scheduled her to return to court on Oct. 18.
• Simon Clawson, 42, of Roan Mountain — was arrested on a warrant out of General Sessions Court charging him with failure to appear, a warrant out of Criminal Court charging him with felony violation of probation, and a warrant out of Circuit Court charging him with failure to appear on child support. He appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Tuesday where he entered a guilty plea to the Sessions Court failure to appear charge and was sentenced to serve 10 days in jail. He appeared in Circuit Court on Wednesday and his case was reset for Oct. 26. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County Criminal Court on Nov. 30.