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.
Tom Adkins, Investigator for the 36th Prosecutorial District Attorney’s Office, has been named chairman of the advisory board for the nine-county Hickory Corps of the Salvation Army. His two-year tenure for the position will begin July 1, 2019. “I am … Read More
Jeffrey Dwayne Hoppes will spend the next 18 to 22 years in prison following his conviction for second-degree murder during Catawba County Superior Court. The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed the active prison term … Read More
A Catawba County jury needed less than three hours of deliberation over two days to find Rickey Dale Waldrop, Sr. guilty of seven sexual offenses dating all the way back to 1986 during Catawba County Superior Court on Friday, June … Read More
Kelvis Blake Dula was given an active prison term of 10 to 13 years following his conviction for second-degree murder in connection with a drug overdose death during Caldwell County Superior Court on Monday, June 3, 2019. The Honorable Louis … Read More
Erica Sierra Haas was sentenced to an active prison term of six to eight years following her conviction for involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to traffick heroin during Caldwell County Superior Court on Monday, June 3, 2019. The Honorable Louis A. … Read More
A jury needed less than 45 minutes of deliberation to find Nancy Benge Austin guilty of first-degree murder in the December 2013 shooting death of 20-year-old Dylan Joseph Short on Friday, May 24, 2019, in Caldwell County Superior Court. Austin, … Read More
A Newton man will spend up to 23 years in prison after his conviction for second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by felon during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Lakeith Marshaun Lawrence, 24, was given … Read More
Omar Christian Regino Vera, 35, of Morganton, was sentenced to an active prison term of three to five years following his conviction for two counts of taking indecent liberties with children. The Honorable Joseph N. Crosswhite, Superior Court Judge from … Read More
Timmy Lee Elkins, 54, of Nebo, was given an active prison term of five to seven years following his conviction for three counts of habitual impaired driving. The Honorable Joseph N. Crosswhite, Superior Court Judge from Iredell County, imposed the … Read More
Taylor Ashley Rockett was welcomed by Scott Reilly to the 36th Prosecutorial District on Monday, May 13, 2019 as a new Assistant District Attorney. Rockett, a native of Burke County, graduated from East Burke High School before attending The University … Read More