Officers arrest 21 in Friday night sweep
By Michael Lewis, News editor

March 11, 2008


Macon County sheriff's deputies brought in 21 suspects Friday night, March 7, during phase two of Operation Safe Streets.

Working with North Carolina Probation and Parole officers, deputies arrested 21 individuals on various charges, including eight illegal immigrants.

"Once it was discovered that they (the illegal immigrants) were in the country illegally, they were detained and taken into custody to await deportation procedures," Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland said. "A United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accompanied us during the operation, along with N.C. Probation and Parole officers."

On Monday, March 10, the illegal immigrants were transported by Macon County deputies to Charlotte, where the deportation process will begin.

"As citizens, we understand that there are consequences when we violate the laws of our state and that is true whether you are a citizen of the United States or not," Holland said.


"All but one of the illegal immigrants have been in our facility on more than one occasion and have used numerous aliases," he said.

The first phase of Operation Safe Streets took place on Jan. 11. Deputies made 17 arrests that night.

During the March 7 operation, Holland said his office received a child sexual-assault call. After a sheriff's investigator participating in the operation responded, Nicholas Edward Tuccicaselli, 27, of 1416 Lake Emory Road, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree rape of a child and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Holland said the suspect and his girlfriend live together at the Lake Emory home and were responsible for babysitting two children, one of which was the victim.

Holland declined to reveal the age of the victim, but did say the child was preschool age. According to Holland, the victim was examined by a physician at Kids Place and interviewed by investigators. Due to department policy, Holland said the sheriff's office would not disclose the results of the physical examination, though he said interviews conducted during the investigation were helpful.



"It was an important part in charges being filed at the conclusion of the investigation," Holland said of the victim's account.

Holland said 25 officers were out working during the operation.

"We had more than triple the amount of personnel we would normally have out at night," he said.

Holland said Operation Safe Streets will continue throughout the year.

The following individuals were arrested in the Friday night operation. The information given includes name, charge, date of birth (DOB), address and amount of bond, if any.



Matias, Jose Cortes; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 03-19-84; 310 Forest Ave., Franklin. No bond.


Rioz, Crisoforo; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 04-20-75; 75 Blossom View Ln., Franklin. No bond.


Ordaz-Vasquez, Dionisio; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 04-08-68; 75 Blossom View Ln., Franklin. No bond.


Yepez, Luis Ruelas; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 11-16-70; 62 Gene Bateman Rd., Franklin. No bond.


Diaz, Emilano Ramos; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 07-20-71; 75 Blossom View Ln., Franklin. No bond.




Matias, Charly; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 05-31-84; 10 Summit Hill Dr., Franklin. No bond.


Matias, Alfonso; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 08-30-77; 310 Forest Ave., Franklin. No bond.


Diaz, Celso Ramos; Immigration Detainer; DOB, 07-28-69; 75 Blossom View Ln., Franklin. No bond.


Branton, William Travis; Driving While Impaired; DOB, 11-23-81; 99 Iotla Park Rd., Franklin. Bond, $500.


Martin, Phillip Anthony; Contributing to Delinquency of Minor; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Possession of Marijuana; DOB, 09-13-81; 6725 Old Murphy Rd., Franklin. Bond, $1,000.


Marthis, Billy Joe; Violation of Domestic Violence Order; DOB, 02-15-61; 1017 Sols Creek Ch. Rd., Tuckasegee, NC. No bond.




Hurst, Larry; Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle; DOB, 02-12-56; 784 Rose Creek Rd., Franklin. Bond, $1,000.


Nock, Adrianne; Failure to Appear / Order for Arrest; DOB, 05-11-86; 515 Queen Branch Rd., Franklin. Bond, $1,500.


Tuccicaselli, Nicholas Edward; First Degree Rape of a Child; Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon; DOB, 07-17-81; 1416 Lake Emory Rd.; Franklin. Bond, $100,000.


Aldrich, Brett Charles; Larceny of Motor Fuel; DOB, 10-06-72; 46 Slope Dr., Franklin. Bond, $500.


Queen, Jeffery Todd; Violation of Domestic Violence Order; DOB, 03-29-73; 595 Belle Rd., Franklin. No bond.




Pevia, Loraine Louise; Simple Affray; DOB, 08-07-84; 305 N. Womack St., Franklin. Bond, $500.


Flores, Manuel Guiterrez; Failure to Appear / Order for Arrest; DOB, 07-25-54; 995 Roller Mill Rd., Franklin. Bond, $500.


Thornhill, Blake; Simple Poss. of Schedule 2; Poss. of Marijuana; Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia; DOB, 07-21-65; 400 Palmer Dr., Franklin. Bond, $2,500.


Canseco, Juan Morales; No Operators License; DOB, 11-22-86; 7 Carolina Mtn. Dr., Franklin. Bond, $170.


Webb, Bobbie Dean; Assault on Female; DOB, 07-09-80; 2288 Allison Watts Rd., Franklin. No bond.

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