A Wendell man accused of breaking into a Four Oaks home and assaulting a couple appeared in court Friday.

A judge ordered that Thomas Wright be held without bond at the Johnston County Detention Center. Before Friday, Wright had a $250,000 bond.

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Wright, 39, is charged with:

  • Two counts of felony breaking and entering to terrorize or injure
    • Two counts of assault with serious bodily injury
      • Two counts of attempted larceny

        A court document states Wright assaulted 74-year-old Teresa Rhodes and 81-year-old James Rhodes who were living in the home along Devils Race Track Road north of Stewart Road in Four Oaks. He is accused of hitting both in the face. The couple received treatment at the hospital, according to the document.

        Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller said it’s the state’s intent to upgrade the charges to two counts of burglary, which he said are more serious charges as Class D felonies.

        Waller said during the daytime on New Year’s Eve, Wright was trespassing in Ronnie's Country Store.

        “Mr. Wright then proceeded down Devils Racetrack Road where he came into contact with the Rhodes family,” Waller said. “James Rhodes will tell you he was outside, he heard his dogs barking, at that point he saw this individual, Mr. Wright [went] to his screen door, started yanking on it, and then he kicked in the screen door, at which time, James [Rhodes] followed Mr. Wright inside, and saw Mr. Wright assault his wife, Teresa, then ransacked the home and started to assault Mr. Rhodes, himself.”

        James Rhodes and other Rhodes family members declined to speak with WRAL News after court on Friday.

        According to Waller, Wright did not have a relationship with the couple.

        Waller said Wright then tried entering a neighbor’s house. However, Waller said the neighbor was able to stop him.

        Wright is also accused of trying to steal a 2016 Honda CRV and a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, according to the court documents.

        According to Waller, a family member of the Rhodes saw Wright walking down the street and detained him until law enforcement arrived.

        Teresa Rhodes is still in ICU at WakeMed, according to Waller.

        “She has a broken eye socket, a concussion, a CT scan showed multiple brain bleeding, hematoma and suspected eye damage,” Waller said.

        James Rhodes was discharged from ICU on New Year’s Day, Waller said.

        “He suffered a broken nose, a broken eye socket, laceration to his ear, trace bleeding in his brain, multiple hematomas, and he had just had open heart surgery,” Waller said.

        Waller said Wright had three prior convictions, two of which are assaults and an indecent exposure charge.

        “Having your house broken into on New Year’s Day on broad daylight and being assaulted certainly shows that someone is a danger to the public,” Waller said.

        Wright is due in court again on Jan. 22.