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False robbery report results in five arrests
By Carey Phillips
Five Western Carolina University students have been charged in connection with a false report of a robbery at Mountain Energy Shell.
Sylva police officers responded to the call at the East Main Street business around 10:10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15.
The store employee, 19-year-old David Allen Shore, reported that two Hispanic man entered the building and demanded money, according to Detective Shannon Ashe. The men did not produce or imply they had any weapons, according to what Shore told officers.
Shore said no one else was in the business during the incident. He was ordered to empty the cash drawers, lay on the floor and not call police, he told officers.
Shore said 15 minutes passed before he reported the incident.
“He gave several statements with inconsistencies while at the scene,” Ashe said. “He came to the Police Department for a more detailed statement. He was confronted with the inconsistencies and admitted to being involved in the incident and that it was not a robbery.”
Shore then admitted that he had phoned some of his friends asking them to come to the business and had given them the money totaling $1,541. All but $7 was recovered, Ashe said.
Shore is charged with larceny by employee, felony larceny, felony conspiracy and filing a false report with police, Ashe said.
Matthew James Kevern, 19, Romerio Si-Andre Scott, 18, and Patrick Evan Garrett, 18, are all charged with felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods and felony conspiracy, according to Ashe.
Brady Harrison Semma, 18, is charged with felony aid and abet, felony possession of stolen goods and felony conspiracy, Ashe said.
All of the defendants listed address on the WCU campus.
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