Christopher Nathaniel Rabb
Robbinsville – A Graham County man beat his girlfriend so severely that he realized she needed medical attention, but then beat her some more so that he could convincingly say her injuries were from a traffic accident.
Christopher Nathaniel Rabb, 21, was sentenced to 22-39 months in prison for second-degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He has been in the Graham County Jail for 346 days, as of Monday and had faced up to 176 months in prison.
Rabb was accused of kidnapping and assaulting Hiwassee, Ga., resident Grace Berrong, who he had been dating since November 2020. Around June 29-30, 2021, Rabb and others had trespassed into a residence in Graham County while Berrong remained in their car. When the property owner showed up, Rabb and his friends escaped out the back of the house and called Berrong to pick them up.
When she arrived, he pulled Berrong – who was still suffering injuries from a previous beating – from the car and started beating her again, breaking her finger and her nose, and causing her head and face to become swollen.
Assistant District Attorney James Moore said Rabb noticed the intensity of her injuries and realized Berrong needed medical attention. While he drove her to the hospital, he concocted a cover story that she had been in a traffic accident and resumed beating her to make her injuries more consistent with a car wreck.
At some point, Rabb threatened to kill Berrong and her family. Berrong later obtained a restraining order against Rabb.
Hospital staff noticed inconsistencies in the story and contacted authorities, who arrested Rabb.
During a hearing in Graham County Superior Court on Monday, Grace Berrong said she lives every day in fear.
“He had me so petrified I was too scared to leave,” she said. “I can’t go to Walmart or anywhere because I’m worried about him or his friends being there.”
Scars from the beatings have changed her appearance.
“I’m not the same as who I was,” she said.
Restitution was waived because all the bills – her hospital bills, car repair bills and cost to replace a cell phone he threw at her – had not been tallied.
Rabb’s attorney, Andrew Kite, said his client dropped out of school in 11th grade and has been working on GED while in jail.
He asked that Rabb be allowed to serve his sentence in Graham County. Visiting Superior Court Judge Jesse Caldwell III rejected the request.
Caldwell asked Rabb if he had anything to say.
“I really do apologize,” Rabb said.
Caldwell asked who Rabb was apologizing to.
“Them, Grace,” he responded.
Berrong and family members were sitting in the court during the proceedings.
Caldwell suggested Rabb make use of his time behind bars by seeking treatment, education and learning a vocation.
“Make good use of it,” Caldwell said. “Become a better person than you are now – which is a pretty low bar.”
Caldwell said Rabb left Berrong permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally.
“Those are things that you did,” the judge said. “I don’t believe your apology is sincere.”
Rabb is also required to pay his lawyer $6,361.50.
In other court matters:
* A trial began on Monday with jury selection for Bryan Berryman, a 52-year-old Graham County resident charged with conspiracy to commit breaking and entering of a building-felony/larceny, habitual breaking and or entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods or property, and being a habitual felon.
The incident occurred April 19, 2021. The victim was Dennis Crisp, a career law enforcement officer who ran for sheriff earlier this year. Jury selection started at 3:10 p.m. Monday with the first 12 jurors called. Almost all the initial jurors were excused for a variety of reasons, including vital work or family commitments. One jury prospect was excused when he said he knows Berryman and could not be an impartial juror, and another prospect was excused when she said she knew and liked the victim, Dennis Crisp. The trial resumed Tuesday.
* Kevin Edward Mashburn, a 32-year-old Robbinsville-area homeless man, was charged with second-degree kidnapping, larceny of a dog and assault on a female. He pleaded guilty to assault on a female and was sentenced 150 days time served and probation. He has been in jail in lieu of $25,000 bail since July 30, 2021 – just shy of a year. He will also be required to pay his lawyer $911.
ADA Moore said Mashburn and the victim had been in an on-again, off-again relationship and had attempted to be “affectionate” with her. When she rejected his advances, he beat her.
“He fully admits to hitting her,” his attorney, Andrew Kite, told the judge.
The District Attorney’s Office has lost contact with the victim, who authorities believe is running from the law herself on unrelated charges, possibly in Swain County. The dog was returned.
Judge Caldwell said Mashburn’s assault on the victim was “remarkably close to something else” (he said “the R word,” implying rape) and the theft of her dog itself was a felony. When he asked if Mashburn had anything to say for himself, Mashburn was at a loss of words.
“How about saying you’re sorry?” the judge asked.
“I’m not entirely convinced that you get it,” Caldwell said. “You don’t put your hands on people. This is not how civil society is supposed to work.”
Caldwell said 150 days was the maximum sentence he could impose.
“If I could give you more, I would. Sir, you need help,” Caldwell stated.
Caldwell suggested Mashburn get treatment for domestic abuse, mental health, substance abuse and anger issues.
“I’m sure your momma raised you better than this. Get some help,” Caldwell said.
* Steven Blevins, a 51-year-old Graham County resident, had a soured relationship with cousin Kelvin Jordan that descended in charges of intimidating a witness.
He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of misdemeanor obstruction of justice punishable by up to 120 days in jail.
The incident happened on June 29. 2019, when Blevins and Jordan encountered each other and Blevins made a threat. Jordan responded to the threat by hitting Blevins with such force, he was taken to the hospital by helicopter. After being released from the hospital, Blevins returned to the location and hung out in a way that intimidated the victim such that he resorted to wearing a bullet-proof vest.
The two cousins have not had contact since that time and his attorney William Shilling said Blevins has learned his lesson. Part of the problem is that Blevins’ uncle lives near Jordan, but Blevins has found an alternate way to visit his uncle, Shilling said.
Blevins was sentenced to 45 days in the county jail suspended, with 24 months of supervised probation, with the last 12 months eligible for unsupervised probation if Blevins does not reoffend.