Flee To Elude Plea Leads To Prison Term For Catawba County Man

Paul Edward Ikard Jr., 53, of Catawba County, was sentenced to serve six to eight years in prison following his conviction for fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle and his admission of habitual felon status.

The Honorable Penn Broyhill, Superior Court Judge from Forsyth County, imposed terms of the active sentence after Ikard entered a guilty plea on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, in Catawba County Superior Court.

The defendant’s sentence length was enhanced by his status as a habitual felon, brought on from prior convictions for flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle in April 2003 (Catawba County), second-degree rape in July 2007 (Burke County) and fail to report new address as a sex offender in May 2015 (Catawba County).

Ikard will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

On March 29, 2023, deputies with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle for a fictitious registration, but the driver did not comply, resulting in a chase with speeds more than 15 mph higher than the posted limits.

The vehicle, driven by Ikard, failed to stop at a stop sign, failed to maintain lane control and crashed into a power pole. The defendant fled on foot but was apprehended shortly thereafter.

Wesley Crowe investigated the case for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Melanie Earles prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Jordan Arney.