News

Investigators charge registered sex offenders

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 27, 2025

Investigators charged eight registered sex offenders in Henderson County with violating the conditions of their supervised probation and parole, according to a press release from Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrests were made on Monday and Tuesday as part of Operation Fowl Play, an operation lead by the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections to ensure compliance of conditions for registered sex offenders currently on supervised probation and parole.
As a result of the operation, eight registered sex offenders were charged with violating not only conditions of their supervised probation and parole but also legal requirements they must comply with as part of being on the sex offender registry, the sheriff’s office said.
The people arrested in the operation include:
• Darryl Lenard Armand Sr. was charged with two (2) counts of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender and one (1) count of a Probation Violation.
• Shonda Beheler was charged with two (2) counts of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender.
• Matthew Blumm was charged with one (1) count of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender.
• Andrew Brock was charged with one (1) count of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender and one (1) count of a Probation Violation.
• Paul Hespelt was charged with five (5) counts of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender and one (1) count of a Probation Violation.
• Brandon Miller was charged with one (1) count of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender, one (1) count of a Felony Probation Violation, and one (1) count of a Parole Violation.
• Johnny Rowe was charged with one (1) count of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender and one (1) count of a Parole Violation.
• Michael McGrade was charged with one (1) count of Failure to Register an Online Identifier as a Sex Offender and one (1) count of a Parole Violation.
An online identifier is defined as an electronic mail address, instant message screen name, user ID, chat or other Internet communication name that could be used in the transmission of information or communication by use of the internet, a computer, a facsimile machine, a pager, a cellular phone, a video recorder or other electronic means by a person identified by a unique address or address number.
Under North Carolina General Statute 14-208.11. A person fails to register as a sex offender if they do any of the following:
(1) Fails to register as required by this Article, including failure to register with the sheriff in the county designated by the person, pursuant to G.S. 14-208.8, as their expected county of residence.
(2) Fails to notify the last registering sheriff of a change of address as required by this Article.
(3) Fails to return a verification notice as required under G.S. 14-208.9A.
(4) Forges or submits under false pretenses the information or verification notices required under this Article.
(5) Fails to inform the registering sheriff of enrollment or termination of enrollment as a student.
(6) Fails to inform the registering sheriff of employment at an institution of higher education or termination of employment at an institution of higher education.
(7) Fails to report in person to the sheriff's office as required by G.S. 14-208.7, 14-208.9, and 14-208.9A.
(8) Reports his or her intent to reside in another state or jurisdiction but remains in this State without reporting to the sheriff in the manner required by G.S. 14-208.9.
(9) Fails to notify the registering sheriff of out-of-county employment if temporary residence is established as required under G.S. 14-208.8A.
(10) Fails to inform the register
ring sheriff of any new or changes to existing online identifiers that the person uses or intends to use.
For more information or case updates, please visit www.nccourts.gov.