NEWS RELEASE

Date/Time of Offense: Monday, August 29, 2022.

Offense(s)/Charge(s): Two Counts of Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle 

                                      Felony Breaking or Entering

                                      Felony Larceny after Breaking or Entering

                                      Felony Breaking or Entering a Motor Vehicle

                                      Felony Larceny of a Firearm

                                      Misdemeanor Damage to Property

                                      Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon

                                      Misdemeanor Flee to Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle

                                      Misdemeanor Careless and Reckless Driving

Location of Incident: 583 Turnersburg Highway Statesville & 738 River Hill Road Statesville. 

Suspect(s): Samantha Ann Kesler, 37 Years Old

                    502 South Center Street

                    Statesville, North Carolina 28677

Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: On Monday, August 29, 2022, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Deputy C. Moncus responded to the Home Run Market located at 583 Turnersburg Highway about a larceny of a semi-truck with a trailer. Witnesses at the store said the truck was last seen traveling on Jane Sowers Road.

Deputies responded to the area to attempt to locate the stolen vehicle patrolling the area but were unsuccessful in finding the truck. 

Later Monday afternoon, patrol deputies received a call about a vehicle being operated in a reckless manner on River Hill Road in eastern Iredell County.

When the deputies arrived in the area, they received information about the vehicle, a truck having been stolen from 738 River Hill Road.

Sergeant L. Hayes spotted the truck at the intersection of River Hill Road and Mocksville, driving erratically. Hayes attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the driver failed to stop. A vehicle pursuit began, and deputies were able to get the vehicle stopped on Sain Road. 

After the truck was stopped, the driver was identified as Samantha Ann Kesler. She was arrested on the scene.

As the investigation continued, evidence showed the suspect, Samantha Kesler, broke into a motor vehicle to attempt to steal it. Kesler then broke into a garage and stole a set of truck keys she used to steal the truck, which had a gun inside it. The victim approached Kesler to get her to stop; Kesler then drove toward the victim aggressively in an attempt to run over the victim over. The victim was able to get out of the way of the vehicle without being stuck.

The Tractor trailer and the other vehicle were returned to the owners. The deputies were able to recover 34,500.00 dollars’ worth of stolen property.   

Kesler was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where she was charged with: Two Counts of Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Felony Breaking or Entering, Felony Larceny after Breaking or Entering, Felony Breaking or Entering to a Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny of a Firearm, Misdemeanor Damage to Property, Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Misdemeanor Flee/Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor Careless and Reckless, Infraction Failure to at Stop Light, Infraction Passing on Double Yellow. Magistrate H. Callejas issued a 53,000.00 dollar secured bond on the charges.

BOND: 53,000.00 DOLLARS SECURED BOND.

Criminal history: Three Counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, Misdemeanor Prostitution, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Four Counts of Open Container in a Passenger Area of a Motor Vehicle, Two Counts of Misdemeanor Shoplifting by Concealment, Misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer, Misdemeanor Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Three Counts of Second Degree Trespassing.