COURTLAND
Deputies from the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Courtland man on Aug. 18 following an investigation into an attempted robbery that occurred in early May.

Jaquel Gay, 21, was charged with abduction, attempted robbery and sexual battery when he was identified by investigators as the second assailant in the theft.

Dustin Benton, 19, also of Courtland, was arrested just days after the incident and was charged with attempted robbery and sexual battery.

“The victim alleges that on that date, two men attempted to rob her of her purse while she was held in her vehicle, but the men were unsuccessful,” said Detective Camden Cobb, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

Gay was released on bond, and is set to appear in Southampton County General District Court on Sept. 18.