News and Press Releases from the DA's Office

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.


Lady Justice Statue

State will not Seek Death Penalty in Shooting Death

Prosecutors for the State announced during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, March 18, 2019, that they will not seek the death penalty in the murder case against 38-year-old Scott Anthony Putnam, of Conover. Putnam is charged with first-degree murder … Read More

Defendant Billy Murphy

Morganton Man Convicted in Armed Robbery

A Morganton man will spend at least six years in prison for a conviction of robbery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle on Thursday, March 7, 2019, during Burke County Superior Court. Billy Earl Murphy, 43, … Read More

Defendant Nereyda Salazar

Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

Nereyda Garcia Salazar, 47, of Pasadena, Texas, will serve an active prison sentence of at least six years following her conviction for trafficking opium/heroin during Catawba County Superior Court on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior … Read More

Defendant Jose Rios

Inmate Sentenced for Assaulting Corrections Officer

Jose Adan Rios, 21, of Gastonia, was given an active prison sentence of seven to nine years following his conviction for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon with … Read More

Defendant Jody Price

Former Narcotics Officer Sentenced in Fraud Case

A former narcotics officer from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office was placed on probation for four years and ordered by the judge to pay back more than $13,000 he took from the agency’s Narcotics Task Force during Burke County Superior … Read More

Defendant Shannon Diehl

Lexington Man Sentenced for Robbery and Kidnapping

A Lexington, N.C., man will spend eight to 11 years in prison after being convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of second-degree kidnapping during Burke County Superior Court. … Read More

Defendant Sherry Lyden

Hickory Woman Sentenced in Statutory Sex Case

Sherry Lyden, 28, of Hickory, will serve an active prison sentence of at least 12 years following her conviction for statutory sex offense with a child during Burke County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. The Honorable Robert C. … Read More

Defendant Billy Hildebran

Defendant Sentenced for Assault on Police Officer

A Hickory man will serve an active prison term of eight to 13 years following his conviction for assaults on a law enforcement officer during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, February 25, 2019. Barry Talmadge Hildebran, 48, was sentenced … Read More

Defendant Jeffery Tucker

Prison Sentence Imposed in Flee to Elude Case

Jeffery Dean Tucker was given an active prison sentence of eight to 10 years for felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle and his habitual felon status. Tucker, 53, of Maiden, was sentenced to the active prison term … Read More