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.
Austin Lee Hector, 29, of Hickory, was sentenced to serve six to eight years in prison following his conviction for two counts of trafficking fentanyl by possession during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The Honorable Nathaniel … Read More
A Hickory man will spend five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to drug and firearm charges during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, March 20, 2026. Derek Scott Frenceschini, 42, was given the active term by the … Read More
Jarrell Tyshon Powell, 33, of Hickory, will serve seven to nine years in prison following his conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, March 9, 2026. The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court … Read More
Casey Everett Pruitt, 35, of Hickory, was sentenced to serve six to eight years in prison following his conviction for trafficking fentanyl by possession and transportation during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, March 9, 2026. The Honorable Nathaniel J. … Read More
A Hickory man will serve six to eight years in prison for a trafficking conviction from a plea entered in Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, March 9, 2026. Christopher David Buchanan, 45, was given the active sentence by the … Read More
A Hickory man will spend six to eight years in prison following his conviction for trafficking opium/heroin during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Marquez Jayshun-Jerome Ikard, 29, was given the active sentence by the Honorable Sherri … Read More
Noah Daniel Garrett, 28, of Conover, was sentenced to serve eight to 11 years in prison following his conviction for multiple property crimes from five different counties during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, March 2, 2026. The Honorable Sherri … Read More
Jeremy Michael Palmer, 40, of Taylorsville, was given an active prison sentence of six to eight years following his conviction for trafficking methamphetamine by possession during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, February 23, 2026. The Honorable Sherri W. Elliott, … Read More
Jaboris Rashawn Francis, 37, of Morganton, was sentenced to serve 11 to 15 years in prison following his conviction for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine during Caldwell County Superior Court on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The Honorable Daniel A. Kuehnert, Superior … Read More
A 56-year-old Hickory man will spend seven to nine years in prison following his conviction for assault and firearms-related offenses along with admission of habitual felon status during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The Honorable Sherri … Read More