Sheriff urges residents to put numbers on no-call list

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is recommending that all cell phone owners place their numbers on the National "Do Not Call" Registry.

"We have received numerous reports of calls made to cell phones containing recorded messages stating that there are no representatives available and asking the cell phone owner to call back later," said Sheriff Gerald Lawson. "Some citizens have also received recorded messages on their cell phones stating, 'Please hold and a representative will be with you shortly.'

"All of these calls are coming from restricted sources so no numbers are available," the sheriff continued, adding that last month, the FCC made it legal for telemarketers to begin calling cell phones.

Lawson further indicated that his office has spoken with several of the major cellular companies concerning this matter and was informed that there is no way to force the callers to make their numbers available at the present time.

Local residents may add their cell phone numbers to the National "Do Not Call" Registry by visiting the following website: www. donotcall. gov.

"The service is free, and your number stays in the registry for five years," said the sheriff. "Those without Internet access may utilize the computers at the Lincoln County Library for this purpose."

In other items of information, Sheriff Lawson reported that Vernon Edwin Brown, Jr., 38, of Hephzibah, was arrested recently on one court of harassing phone calls.

According to the sheriff, "Mr. Brown made numerous calls from his cell phone to a juvenile girl who resides in Lincoln County. An investigator with our office was able to trace the cell phone to Mr. Brown's home address in Burke County.

"The phone calls appear to have been made in a random manner. When a female would answer the phone, Mr. Brown would call that number back continuously."

Brown is currently out on a $5,000 conditional bond.

Lawson asked that anyone receiving calls of a harassing nature from an unidentified source contact the sheriff's office at 706-359-4118.

In an unrelated case, the sheriff reported that on Sunday, April 23, his deputies and an officer with the Lincolnton Police Department arrested Michael David Smith, 41, of Oglethorpe (Macon County) and charged him with one count each of stalking and harassing phone calls.

The arrest was made after the sheriff's office received information

that a suspicious person was in a local convenience store asking for information about an individual living in the county.

As of press time, Smith was incarcerated in the Lincoln County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

The case is still under investigation by the sheriff's office.

Concerning other recent arrests, Sheriff Lawson reported that Danny Colquitt Barrs, 46, of Lincoln County was arrested and charged with two counts of forgery in the first degree after the subject allegedly wrote three checks for a total of $275 to a business in Lincoln County.

Barrs remains in custody at the detention center. Bail was denied due to an outstanding warrant for the subject's arrest in South Carolina.