Police release sketch
of downtown rape suspect

Asheville police last Thursday released a sketch of a man believed to have committed a rape against a woman in the downtown area recently.

A 25-year-old woman told police she was walking on Broadway Street about 7:30 p.m. May 3 when a man forced her down Carolina Lane — a block west of Broadway — and raped her.  Carolina Lane runs between Woodfin and East Walnut streets.

The woman, who reported the rape to police on May 6, said that a second person held her down while she was being raped. The woman also said she did not know her attackers.

The alleged rapist is described as white, in his 30s, about 6 feet tall, with a medium build, brown hair that reached his ears, scruffy facial hair and shaggy eyebrows.

A description of the accomplice was not immediately available.

Anyone with any information related to the case can call the police at 252-1110 or CrimeStoppers at 255-5050.

Raleigh man, 26, arrested
in Weaverville bank heist

WEAVERVILLE — A Raleigh man was arrested Saturday on charges in connection with a Weaverville bank robbery earlier last week.

Jeffrey Scott Adams, 26, is charged with common-law robbery and communicating threats during the robbery of the RBC Bank branch at 81 Weaver Blvd. about 1:30 p.m. May 5.

Adams reportedly told the tellers to “Give me all your money. No dye packs. Don’t hit the alarm or I will kill you. If I see any cops, I will kill you.”

Adams is being held under a $105,000 bond.

Candler man, 22, charged
in robbery with weapon

A Candler man was charged Saturday with robbing a man late last month.

William Raymond Miller, 22, of Pisgah View Drive was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon. Miller reportedly stole a man’s laptop computer and cash while possessing or threatening use of a handgun and knife.

The robbery took place April 28, according to the warrant. Miller’s bond was set at $15,000.

Candler man, 45, charged
in wife’s shooting death

CANDLER — A Candler man was charged last Wednesday with shooting and killing his wife last month.
Brian Kevin Lewis, 45, of Pisgah Highway was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Donna Jean Sanford Lewis, 42. His bond was set at $100,000.

Emergency dispatchers received a call from Lewis about 9:45 a.m. April 23 stating that his wife had shot herself, officials said.

Upon arrival, deputies found Donna Lewis dead with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators began to suspect a homicide after receiving inconsistent statements from Lewis and from examining the crime scene itself.

Lewis allegedly used a pistol, which was recovered at the scene.

The couple, married for about four years, had lived on Pisgah Highway for nearly two months. They previously had lived in the Black Mountain, Swannanoa area and McDowell County.

The couple reportedly had a history of domestic violence with police involvement in McDowell County, officials said.

Donna Lewis worked at J. Crew and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Fairview teenager charged
in indecent liberties case

A Fairview teenager was charged on May 7 with taking indecent liberties with a child.

Damian Christopher Payne, 17, of Oak Hill Circle was charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

The crimes occurred last November and involved a child younger than 16, according to arrest warrants.
Payne’s bond was set at $1,000.

In other recent Buncombe County arrests:
• Sergey Romanyukha, 18, of Largo Lane in Asheville was charged with felony assault on a handicapped person.

Romanyukha reportedly assaulted a woman by wrapping an electrical cord around her neck. His bond was set at $4,000.

• Jerri Smith Reed, 30, of Cherokee was charged with felony larceny. Specifically, she was arrested for stealing $1,056 in jewelry and makeup from Belk’s department store. Her bond was set at $300.
• Gregory Kent Lucas, 61, of Oakley Dogwood Drive in Asheville was charged with obstructing justice and identity theft.

Lucas reportedly appeared before a judge and gave a false name. He also used another man’s name to make financial or credit transations, according to a warrant.

His bond was set at $1,000.

Mars Hill man arrested
in failure-to-perform case

A Mars Hill man was arrested Friday on charges he was paid to do home construction jobs and failed to do the work.

Michael Lee Beaver, 33, also is wanted in Washington County, Tenn., on similar charges.

Beaver reportedly was paid nearly $1,400 to do two home-remodeling repair jobs, but failed to return to do the work.

He was charged locally with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and one count of simple worthless check.

In Tennessee, Beaver worked at a Johnson City handyman business and was paid nearly $9,000 to complete repair and remodeling jobs.

When those who hired Beaver tried to contact him, they discovered his offce was closed and his telephone disconnected, warrants stated.