Stepfather indicted for rape, murder
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on January 6, 2006 2:00 PM
The stepfather of a 14-year-old girl has been indicted by the Wayne County Grand Jury on charges that he raped and murdered her last year.
Roger Lamonte Sutton, 33, of Hinnant Road, Pikeville, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, statutory rape, indecent liberties with a child and performing a lewd and lascivious act.
Sutton has been held without bond in the Wayne County Jail since his arrest.
The body of Jonneka Nikki Spencer was found before dawn June 27 by sheriff's detectives in woods off Church of God Road.
Deputies had responded to a loud-noise complaint at about 3:30 a.m. at a Hinnant Road address. After arriving, they confronted Sutton. A further investigation led them to the girl's body. The cause of death has not been released.
Less than three months earlier, Sutton had been charged with stabbing a man and a woman on Union Grove Church Road west of Fremont, in what authorities said was a drug-related incident. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released from custody.
The grand jury in September indicted Sutton not only on two charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill while inflicting serious injury, but also on charges of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree rape in the case.
In other action, a 45-year-old man from Dudley was indicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon while inflicting serious injury, armed robbery, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, larceny and possession of stolen goods. Donnie Ray Ivey of Potts Road is accused of attacking and robbing a man at his home on U.S. 13 South in July.
Other indictments
The grand jurors handed up 24 other indictments, including eight on drug charges and eight on such property crimes as breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods.
Four defendants were indicted on such fraud charges as forgery, uttering, false pretense and credit card theft. Two assault indictments were handed up. Others were indicted for attempted robbery, sex charges and weapon offenses. Several people were indicted on charges in more than one crime category.
The grand jury could not act on two bills of indictment, because witnesses were not available.