Granville County Sheriff Charles R. Noblin Jr. has submitted his resignation effective at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday), citing recent revelations as part of an ongoing investigation into actions of former Sheriff Brindell Wilkins. Wilkins and three deputies were indicted Tuesday with falsifying training certificates dating back to 2012.
County Attorney Jim Wrenn provided WIZS News with a copy of the resignation letter that Noblin sent Wrenn Tuesday afternoon. “Due to personal reasons beyond my control and newly discovered information brought to my attention concerning the ongoing investigation, I feel that it is in my best interest and betterment of Granville County Sheriff’s Office that I inform you of my resignation effective October 27, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.”
The ongoing investigation involves the former sheriff and three deputies who were indicted by a Wake County grand jury Tuesday afternoon on multiple felony charges of obtaining property by false pretense and felony obstruction of justice “based on allegations of falsifying and submitting training and firearm qualification records,” according to a letter from Wake District Attorney N. Lorrin Freeman to the N.C. Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Division in Raleigh.
In the letter addressed to Division Director Diane Konopka, Freeman named Wilkins, Sherwood Boyd, Chad Coffey and Edward Keith Campbell as the individuals alleged to be involved, which Freeman stated is an ongoing criminal matter.
The letter further stated that Noblin and Russell “Rusty” Corley may also hold falsified certifications. This information surfaced during the course of the investigation, Freeman said. Both men “signed firearm qualification forms indicating that they had completed the mandated course of fire and received passing scores when in fact they had not. Both individuals were on medical leave at the time, and in lieu of completing the necessary waiver, participated in their agency submitting fraudulent information to the Division at the direction of the others within the department,” Freeman’s letter continued.
“Inasmuch as these allegations, if proven true, would be a basis for action by your Commission as to these individuals’ justice officer certification, I am notifying you of this,” Freeman said of the indictments returned for Wilkins, Boyd, Coffey and Campbell. “There may be grounds to summarily suspend certifications for one or more of these individuals, I am willing to allow you, or an investigator with your Division, to review the investigation in this matter if you so wish.”
But she said it was determined that Noblin and Corley should not be subjects of a criminal prosecution because the actions were deemed “isolated incidents.” Rather, the individuals should be reported to the education and training standards division, as well as the agency head or employer and to the district attorney “for determinations as to these individuals’ status of employment, certification and capacity as a witness in other criminal matters,” the letter stated.
In a follow-up email from Freeman today (Wednesday), she said that because Noblin tendered his resignation he is “not subject to a criminal investigation or prosecution based on this singular incident” and it is “a matter that is appropriately handled administratively.”
County Attorney Wrenn told WIZS News today (Wednesday) that Chief Deputy Chris Smoot will step in until the county commissioners appoint someone to fill the unexpired term of sheriff. The commissioners have, as yet, made no decision on appointing anyone to fill the unexpired term, Wrenn stated.
“In resigning and not pursuing law enforcement employment, Mr. Noblin has put his agency above his personal ambition,” Freeman told WIZS News. “This now gives this department and the people of Granville County a chance to start a new era for the Granville County Sheriff Office through an election that is upcoming. Law enforcement have difficult jobs within our communities and it is critical that they work to maintain the public trust. A strict commitment to maintaining credibility and adhering to qualification requirements is essential to being able to do this,” she stated.
The Granville County Commissioners appointed Noblin to fill the unexpired term of Wilkins, and he assumed the duties of sheriff in January 2020.