News

Man sent to prison for robbing Hendersonville woman

By Bill Moss, Published: June 28, 2017

A 28-year-old Pisgah Forest man was sentenced to nine years in prison after a Transylvania County jury convicted him of the armed robbery of a Hendersonville woman last October, District Attorney Greg Newman announced

Jonathan Antonio Richardson, of 100 Marley Road, was sentenced by Judge Eric Morgan in a June 12 court term.

Evidence presented at trial was that Christine Hampton of Hendersonville stopped at the One Stop convenient store in Pisgah Forest on the evening of October 15. When getting back into her truck, she was approached by Erin Hogsed, also of 100 Marley Road in Pisgah Forest and a recent employee of the store, who asked for a ride home. Ms. Hampton agreed and Ms. Hogsed entered the passenger side of Hampton’s truck while her boyfriend, Mr. Richardson, let himself into the backseat. Ms. Hampton had not seen Richardson when approached by Ms. Hogsed.

Ms. Hampton was directed by both Hogsed and Richardson to take them to Crab Creek Road and then to turn onto Heath Drive. It was at this point where Richardson reached up behind Ms. Hampton and held a rough shaped object to her throat while saying, “If you do not cooperate, you will die.” Ms. Hampton was then forced out of her truck and Richardson and Hogsed drove off leaving Ms. Hampton to flag down a motorist to ask for help.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department responded quickly and, through the use of a photo line-up with Ms. Hampton, identified Richardson. Ms. Hogsed was identified by the store clerk on duty who knew who she was. Through the use of phone records, social media and statements of persons familiar with the suspects, both Richardson and Hogsed were arrested in San Diego, California, on Oct. 25, 10 days after the incident. They were transported back to Transylvania County for prosecution. Ms. Hogsed provided a statement to the Sheriff’s Department upon her return home. Richardson did not give a statement, but did testify in his own defense at trial.

Ms. Hampton was suffering from cancer at the time of the incident and she died earlier this year. Her video-taped interview with sheriff’s detective Geoff Bishop on the crime date was played for the jury.

“I want to compliment the work of Sheriff Mahoney’s department in this case”, Newman said. “They acted swiftly and it is impressive that they located our suspects in California in less than two weeks. I commend Detective Geoff Bishop and the other officers who investigated this violent crime. I had the honor of meeting Ms. Hampton before she died and she expressed to me her appreciation for how capably the investigation was conducted. As always, I appreciate the community’s support of our efforts to prosecute these cases. There is a high respect here in Transylvania County for upholding the rule of law and I am fortunate to serve such great people."