He ought to be prosecuted using the laws he has tried to have made over us.
State Sen. R.C. Soles indicted on assault charge
State Sen. R.C. Soles, the state's longest-serving legislator, was indicted Thursday on a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury.
Related Links:Soles likely to face pressures to leave N.C. Senate before term expires Brunswick County DA could benefit from Sen. Soles bill
Soles shooting witness gets $5M bail on cocaine charge Guilty in assault case, R.C. Soles vows to finish Senate term
Soles initially sentenced to 60 days in jail suspended
State Sen. R.C. Soles fined $1,000 after plea deal
More Stories
Key Documents:Soles indictment (PDF - 551kb)
The Attorney General's Office presented a bill of indictment to a Columbus County grand jury. The charge carries a possible sentence of 15 to 31 months in prison.
Police say Soles, D-Columbus, shot Kyle Blackburn, 22, in the leg Aug. 23 at the senator's Tabor City home. Soles has said he was acting in self-defense after Blackburn and another man tried to kick in the door of his home.
“We are certainly disappointed,” Soles' attorney Joe Cheshire said Thursday. “We believe what happened at his house that evening was the result of an attack on his home and that he was defending himself.”
Cheshire said when Soles will booked and processed through the system has not yet been decided.
“I'm saddened for him. I'm saddened for the county, and I'm saddened for the state of North Carolina,” Tabor City Police Chief Donald Dowless said. “It's just a bad day for him and the county and the state of North Carolina.”
Columbus County residents and officials were curious about the grand jury's decision.
Outside the Columbus County Courthouse in Whiteville, one man shouted from his car at reporters, “Was he indicted?”
Reactions mixed
In Soles' hometown of Tabor City, a 29-year-old woman whose mother has worked on his campaigns previously was saddened by the news of his indictment.
“I've always liked him,” said Jennifer Watson, clutching a nursing book in her arm as she got into her car with her son. “I stand behind him 100 percent. I don't find it a crime to shoot someone ... who's intruding on your house.”
Watson also happens to be Blackburn's neighbor, and she said that what she knows of the young man is that he's always in trouble with the law. As to the shooting incident at Soles' house, she said, “If you tell them to move and they're not leaving, you have a right to defend that.”
Another man who works at True Value said Soles should be held accountable if he committed a crime.
“If he's guilty, he ought to have to pull time just like anybody else,” said Elbert Long, a retired furniture salesman. “Just 'cause he's a lawyer and knows all the lawyers, I don't think he should be treated better than any common, ordinary citizen.”
A part-owner of True Value, Sam Rogers, said he's inn the Rotary Club with Soles and also goes to the same church, Tabor City Baptist.
“He's been a very outstanding senator and an especially vital part of this community for many years,” he said. “He's just done so much for the community.”
“I hate this has come about,” he said of Soles' indictment. “It's not good. We all feel for him, but we know things will work out for the best.”
Soles was not at his Tabor City law office or home Thursday afternoon. His 98-year-old father, R.C. Soles Sr., said he did not want to comment and had not talked to Soles by 5 p.m. Thursday. He did say Soles had gone to Wilmington for business.
The State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate accusations made by a young man who claimed Soles tried to molest him when he was 15. The man, Stacey Scott, has since recanted those claims, and Soles denies them.
Legal implications
Soles announced last week that he will not seek re-election this year, at least in part because of these cases.
The legal problems could also affect his legal career.
The North Carolina State Bar can disbar a lawyer if he commits a criminal act that “reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.”
There is no rule that states which criminal acts fit into that category.
The lawyer does not have to be charged with a crime for the State Bar to take action, said Katherine Jean , counsel to the State Bar.
When the State Bar gets information about possible misconduct by a lawyer, its grievance committee can open a file on that lawyer and look into the complaint. The State Bar can hold its own trial and present evidence to determine whether the lawyer should be disciplined.
Jean said because of confidentiality rules, she could not say whether a grievance file has been opened on Soles. But usually, if a lawyer has been charged with a crime, the State Bar will let the justice system run its course, Jean said. If a lawyer is convicted, the State Bar has the right to take away his license without holding its own trial. Shelby Sebens: 343-2076 On Twitter.com: @ShelbySebens