Below you will find information about the latest pleas, trials, and important developments in Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. As an office, we are bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct for all North Carolina attorneys, and special rules for prosecutors. Therefore, we often only comment on cases after final disposition.
For all media inquiries and requests, for all three counties, please contact Nathan Key by phone: 828-695-6193 or email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org.
James Willard Thacker, 35, of Hickory, was convicted of second-degree murder during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, and will spend at least 21 years in prison. The Honorable Karen Eady-Williams, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg County, … Read More
Craig Jarvis Patterson, 49, of Hickory, will spend seven to 10 years in prison following his conviction for five counts of habitual larceny and admission of habitual felon status. The Honorable Karen Eady-Williams, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg County, imposed … Read More
Chad Lee Smith, 44, of Hickory, was found guilty as charged by a Catawba County jury last week and given an active prison term. The 12-member jury rendered its verdict on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, to conclude a three-day trial. … Read More
Skyler Lee Obrien, 32, of Granite Falls, will spend six to eight years in prison following his conviction for trafficking methamphetamine by possession during Caldwell County Superior Court on Monday, August 5, 2019. The Honorable Daniel A. Kuehnert, Superior Court … Read More
Bond was revoked for a Vale man charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in Burke County. Tykevious Owan Thomas, 27, was given a $500,000 secured bond for allegedly shooting … Read More
District Attorney Scott Reilly was one of the featured speakers for the dedication ceremony of the Charters of Freedom in the City of Lenoir that took place on July 3, 2019. Reilly, the elected DA for the 36th Prosecutorial District … Read More
On Friday, March 8, 2019, Icey Chennell Gooden, 28, entered a guilty plea to two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of first-degree kidnapping in Burke County Superior Court in relation … Read More
Joshua Lee Lumpkins, 46, of Hudson, will spend at least 25 years in prison following his conviction for two counts of attempted first-degree statutory rape and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. The Honorable Daniel A. Kuehnert, … Read More
The State is not seeking the death penalty in the murder case against 32-year-old Justin Drew Dalton, of Newton. Prosecutors announced during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, that they do not intend to proceed with the … Read More
A Morganton man will serve an active prison term of 28 to 43 months following his conviction for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a Burke County firefighter. Randall Hugh Stewart, 59, entered a guilty plea during Burke … Read More