-Press Release, Office of District Attorney Michael D. Waters
Henderson, NC – A session of Vance County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held during the week of June 11, 2018. The Honorable Henry W. Hight, Jr, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, presided over the session. The District Attorney’s Office was represented by District Attorney Michael D. Waters and Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey, Nicole G. Louis and David J. Erdmann. In addition to one jury trial, several pleas were taken during the week-long session.
The case involving the 2007 murder of Leo Ziegler and the attempted murder of Shirley Venable was called for trial Tuesday morning. A Vance County Jury returned guilty verdicts against Rodney Williams Wednesday afternoon. Rodney Williams was sentenced to 480 to 585 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC), for Attempted Murder and Life without parole in DAC for the First Degree Murder. The defendant was represented by Larry Norman. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Rashawn Williams pleaded guilty to First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and was sentenced to 60 to 132 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Nathan Baskerville. The case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department.
Akeem Alston pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession with Intent to Sell/ Deliver Heroin and was sentenced to 8 to 19 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Jerry Stainback. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Altarik Alston pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on jail property and was sentenced to 9 to 20 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Jerry Stainback. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Shaqiel Clark remanded a DWI conviction, accepting a 30-day active sentence suspended for 12 months of unsupervised probation. The defendant was represented by Scott Hamilton. The case was charged by the NC State Highway Patrol.
Germar Dunston pleaded guilty to possession of 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces of marijuana, and was sentenced to 120 days active, suspended for 18 months of supervised probation. The defendant was represented by Scott Hamilton. The case was charged by NC ALE.
Samantha Huggins pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule I controlled substance and was sentenced to 6 to 17 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Deborah Leigh Holtzmann. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Lynch pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 12 months in DAC. The Defendant was represented by Mike Rogers. The case was charged by the NC State Highway Patrol.
Travevon Fogg pleaded guilty to Obtaining Property by False Pretense. He was sentenced to 17 months active, which was suspended for 36 months of supervised probation. The defendant was represented by David Waters. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.