Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
New antenna installed, 89.3 WTEB operating at full power

Sheriff: Inmate started fire that evacuated ENC jail

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published March 17, 2025 at 6:47 AM EDT
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

An inmate has been charged after a fire last week at the Beaufort County Jail led to the evacuation of all inmates in the detention center.

Sheriff Scott Hammonds said Robert Blount III was arrested a few weeks ago on drug charges and was previously arrested by U.S. Marshals in 2014 for a shooting in Pitt County.

The jail was built in the late 1960s and located in the basement of the courthouse. Hammonds said the fire was put out without injuries to jail staff or inmates.

Work is well underway to clean and restore the jail and Hammonds said they plan to have all inmates move back in this week.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston