IFN Staff

Two men face felony charges related to the theft of firearms following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Billy Ayden Summer, 20, of Statesville, and James Anthony Seria, 22, of Mooresville on social media.

Sgt. E. Line, a supervisor with the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team, was patrolling the area of Wilkesboro Highway when he observed a suspicious truck parked on the shoulder of Damascus Church Road on Sunday, March 1, Campbell said. After checking nearby businesses for the vehicle’s occupants, Sgt. Line later returned to the area and found two individuals — identified as Summer and Seria — in the vehicle, the sheriff said. Sgt. Line observed four rifles concealed beneath a toolbox in the truck’s bed that had not been visible when the vehicle was first located.

During the investigation, deputies discovered that an outbuilding in the 4200 block of Wilkesboro Highway had been broken into, Campbell said. The property owner responded to the scene and confirmed that multiple rifles had been stolen from a safe inside the building, the sheriff added.

After verifying the serial numbers, deputies confirmed the rifles found in the vehicle had been stolen from the outbuilding, Campbell said. The firearms had an estimated total value of $3,500.

Summer and Seria were arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and entering, four counts of felony larceny of a firearm, and felony conspiracy to break and enter a building.

Magistrate J. Hollar found probable cause and issued each suspect a $75,000 secured bond.