FORMER MAIDEN FOOTBALL STAR ARRESTED IN APPARENT "HATE CRIME"


Tommy Henry


By Jon Mayhew

July 10, 2008

NEWTON -- He was a star running back for the Maiden High School Blue Devils. But Tommy Henry now is arrested on charges he participated with two other black males in the beating and attempted sodomy of a homeless white male.

Newton Police said the incident happened June 20 at a residence on McDaniels Circle. According to authorities, they were investigating an assault but discovered that a kidnapping and sexual assault had occurred.

The victim, who authorities would not identify, had been staying with residents at the home where the incidents took place.

Newton Police Sgt. Tim Hayes said the victim was beaten then restrained then assauleted further by Henry, Johnny Deon Abernathy and Jarvis Ledon McCullough.

"He was also burned wtih a cigarette lighter," said Hayes. "Sodomy was also attempted."

Hayes said he expects to arrest the other two suspects in the next few days. Authorities have called for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office regarding hate crime issues, according to a Newton Police Department release.



Henry was arrested Thursday morning around 11:50 a.m. and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony first degree kidnapping. He was placed in the Catawba County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond and given a court date of Friday.

Henry, who was a star running back in the final years of the Coach Tom Brown football dynasty, had signed to play football in Kansas. Henry was staying with his father while out of school for the summer.