• The beating of a 19-year-old last year in Whiteville’s West Side Park, combined with a shooting incident during baseball practice, led to closing of park for 10 days.

By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

Five of the six Chadbourn and Whiteville males — members of what investigators call “Hell’s Gangster Disciples” — charged in the vicious beating of a fellow gang member were sent to prison last week. The sixth gang member’s plea was postponed.

Troy Steven “Izzy” Childress, 20, of Whiteville and Robeson County, was sent to prison for 38 to 55 months. Reggie James Bellamy, 19, of Chadbourn, and three from Whiteville – Christopher Dewayne “Snooky” Campbell, 20; Kendrick Brandon Bethea, 21; and Andrew Winfred Powell, 19, will serve between 13 and 16 months each.

Childress’ term was enhanced because of a prior record of assault on a female. Bethea has a credit of 354 days, and the others have credits of less than a month.

In addition to the prison terms, Bethea, Bellamy and Campbell will be on probation for three years after their release from the state system, with another prison term of 10 to 12 months suspended for their probation.

Jerome Bullock, 20, of Berry Lane, Brunswick, was the victim of the March 10, 2006 beating that left him with brain damage that causes speech impairment and short-term memory problems, records show.

Trial interrupted

Bethea and Campbell were being tried by a jury last week when the proceedings were stopped and they took a plea offer from the state. Childress, Bellamy and Powell pleaded at the same time.

The victim said the beating came about because he wanted to get out of the gang, and he knew the rules were that he had to take the beating. However, the gang rule that called for each member to beat Bullock one at a time wasn’t followed by all of those present, testimony showed.

Bullock said he and the other six went to the park together that day to “conduct gang business,” Assistant District Attorney Samantha Alsup said. The victim was beaten by hands and feet of the defendants.

Bullock said he knew he was “in violation” of gang rules because he did not rob a local store as directed by gang leader Jason “Pampers” Willetts, 22, of Whiteville. Willetts, who was sent to prison in 2003, is also known as “King Lucifer” to the gang members, records show.

The trial was stopped after Bullock surprisingly testified he “didn’t have a beef with anyone” about what happened to him. Alsup said the state didn’t know the effect this statement would have on the jury, and made the plea offers to Bethea and Campbell.

Found unconscious

Powell also testified and admitted he and the others beat Bullock because of gang rules. The rule was that each member was to beat Bullock for six minutes at a time, it was shown.

Bullock was found unconscious near the park’s basketball court by some local residents and was hospitalized. He was unable to talk for more than a month.

The sixth gang member, Christopher Paul “C Roll” Rowland, 28, of Whiteville, still faces charges. His case was postponed because his attorney was involved in a murder trial in another county.

Willetts has not been charged as part of the gang business, and is being held in unrelated cases. He is charged with eight counts of fraud, possession of a stolen vehicle, intimidating a witness in another beating incident, plus absconding while on electronic house arrest.