A Conover man received an active prison term of seven to nine years during Catawba County Superior Court in connection with the death of two people in March 2016.
Devin Maurice Ussery, 30, was given the prison sentence by the Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court from Catawba County, on Monday, August 17, 2020. He will serve that period of incarceration in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Ussery’s sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.
The defendant entered that guilty plea in front of Judge Poovey in relation to charges stemming from the March 12, 2016, murders of 34-year-old Mark Anthony Wilson and 39-year-old Deidra LaCarol Ramseur at the couple’s home on Rest Home Road in Claremont.
Poovey addressed the families of the deceased, saying, “It’s my hope and prayer that today gives you peace, and you can move on. There’s nothing I can say to heal that wound. It will always be there.”
The defendant also addressed the families of both victims, saying, “I apologize for my role in this situation. There’s nothing I can do to bring your loved ones back.”
Autopsy findings show that Ramseur died as a result of a shotgun blast to the head. Wilson died from gunshot wounds to the neck and head from a shotgun and 9-millimeter handgun.
As part of his plea agreement, Ussery’s sentencing was delayed so he could be interviewed by investigators regarding his involvement in the death of the two victims. He also agreed to provide truthful testimony against co-defendants in the double homicide.
The State contends that the defendant was asked to drive several other people to the residence. While there, he heard gunshots, saw the men running from the house and then drove them away from the scene.
“He regrets his role, and he regrets who he was with and what he was doing on that day,” said Al Reeder, defense attorney for Ussery.
Reeder added that his client was not part of the planning or conspiracy to rob and kill Wilson and Ramseur, noting that he was just asked to drive and gave a detailed account of what happened.
Latera Ramseur, sister of Deidre Ramseur, addressed Ussery prior to his sentence being imposed.
“You already know what you took from us,” she said. “It’s personal. I don’t forgive you; somebody else might, but I don’t. She wasn’t perfect, but she was good. She helped you before, and you know that.”
Ussery is one of five co-defendants linked to the shooting deaths of Wilson and Ramseur. Two of them – William Crawford Powell Jr. and Reand Pablo-Antonio Rivera – have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. Two others – Arsenio DeWayne Curtis and Jordan Alexander Rivera – have pending court dates and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
“Our sentiments continue to be with the families of Deidra Ramseur and Mark Wilson,” Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown said. “As these cases are resolved, we continue to be pleased with the work of our District Attorney’s Office and the SBI. Our investigative team has worked closely with the prosecutors in this case. This partnership is bringing about positive results.”
The case was investigated by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant District Attorneys Lance Sigmon and Sean Baetjer handled prosecution for the State.
CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org