Editor’s note: The headline of this report was originally “Homeless shelter resident accused of assaulting woman,” and was changed to reflect what is believed to be updated, more accurate information. The URL remains the same.
Staff report
A homeless man is accused of breaking and entering into a Rockingham woman’s home, assaulting a woman who lived there and threatening her. Joseph Wayne DeBerry, 48, is scheduled to appear on June 29 in Richmond County District Court.
Each of the misdemeanor charges against DeBerry stem from three separate encounters against the woman. DeBerry listed the Place of Grace Rescue Mission in East Rockingham as his place of residence.
Authorities allege that on June 5, DeBerry grabbed the woman by the east and threw her against a vehicle.
On June 28, police said DeBerry threatened to stab the woman in the throat. A day later, DeBerry allegedly broke into the woman’s home, located approximately 1.5 miles from the shelter on Airpot Road. DeBerry is also charged with domestic criminal trespassing because he and the woman had a prior relationship.
Update, 2:44 p.m. Monday: Pastor Gary Richardson, of the Place of Grace Rescue Mission, said DeBerry was not a resident of the homeless shelter at the time of the incidents. He said DeBerry had not lived there in approximately two months. Despite that, it’s the Place of Grace Rescue Mission’s address DeBerry gave to police at the time of his arrest. Richardson said he did not know what prompted DeBerry to provide that address.
DeBerry also has a misdemeanor charge of resisting a public officer, seemingly from an unrelated case, for which he’s due in court on July 30.
