ROCKINGHAM — A man wanted for allegedly failing to appear in court is now facing theft charges.
An arrest warrant, issued May 18, alleges that 27-year-old Richard Phillip Spivey, who is listed as being homeless, stole a titanium welder valued at $1,100 and sold it for $80. The incident date is listed as May 13-15.
Spivey was arrested June 8 and charged with one felony count each of larceny, possession of stolen goods or property and obtaining property by false pretenses.
Online court records show orders for Spivey’s arrest were issued May 18, and his bond was forfeited, after he allegedly failed to appear in court in separate cases on the following charges: unauthorized use of a motor vehicle from April; and assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats from January.
Spivey is being held in the Richmond County Jail on a combined $27,000 secured bond. He has court appearances scheduled for June 18 on the latest case and June 22 on the prior pending cases.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Spivey has the following previous convictions:
2015 - assault by pointing a gun
2022 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, resisting a public officer, violation for having a controlled substance at a penal institution
2023 - possession of a firearm by a felon (Gaston and Pender); burning personal property, assault on a female, reckless driving (Richmond)
Spivey was incarcerated in 2024 on a three-month reimprison violation, and the following year on a post-release revocation. He was released on Dec. 5, 2025.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
