43rd DISTRICT
5 convicted of sex abuse
District Attorney Ashley Welch announced multiple convictions of defendants charged with sexually abusing young children last week.
The cases are unrelated. One took place in Jackson County, three were in Swain County and one was in Graham County, according to a release.
“Prosecuting sexual abuse of children is among the most critical work our prosecutors undertake,” Welch said. “For years, we have been relentless in our pursuit of child-sex offenders.
“These cases help to remind us that our youth is vulnerable to victimization, and that each of us bear a legal and moral obligation to help protect them,” she said. “This protection takes many forms, including vigorous prosecution in the courtroom, diligent law enforcement investigations and citizens willing to report suspected offenders.”
Welch oversees the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the state’s seven westernmost counties. These recent cases resulting in prison time are:
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A Graham County jury convicted Michael White, 47, of Robbinsville, of first-degree sex offense with a child. The abuse involved a 9-year-old girl and took place on Dec. 26, 2010, and June 30, 2012.
White was sentenced to serve a minimum of 300 months in prison up to a maximum of 360 months in prison.
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Alex Dakota Pilon, 27, of Royston, Ga., pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape of child by adult. The abuse involved a 12-year-old girl and took place on Nov. 1, 2022, at a home in Whittier.
Pilon was sentenced to serve a minimum of 300 months in prison and up to 420 months in prison.
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A Swain County jury convicted Michael Freeman, 48, of Bryson City, of statutory rape of a child by an adult. The abuse involved an 11-year-old girl and took place on July 30, 2020. Freeman was sentenced to serve a minimum of 300 months in prison up to a maximum of 420 months in prison.
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Rickey Wiley Cross, 65, of Bryson City, pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape and one count of indecent liberties. The abuse involved a 14-year-old girl and took place on Aug. 28, 2022. Cross was sentenced to serve a minimum term of 254 months in prison up to a maximum term of 365 months in prison.
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A Jackson County jury convicted Donathan Shelton, 32, of Sylva, of indecent liberties. The abuse involved a 9-year-old girl and took place on Jan. 1, 2019. Shelton was sentenced to serve to a minimum term of 20 months in prison up to a maximum term of 30 months in prison.
CANTON
State sues paper mill
Attorney General Josh Stein last week sued Pactiv Evergreen on behalf of the N.C. Department of Commerce.
In 2023, Pactiv abruptly closed the paper mill it owns in Canton, which had been in operation for more than 100 years and employed more than 1,000 workers. In the lawsuit, Stein demands that Pactiv Evergreen repay $12 million to the state for breaching a 2014 grant agreement with the Department of Commerce.
“Pactiv Evergreen’s closure of the Canton paper mill was a gut punch to our state’s economy and the people of Canton and Haywood County,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a release. “This company broke its commitment to keep the mill open and the state is taking action to hold them accountable.”
The JMAC Agreement provided Pactiv Evergreen with $12 million in economic development incentives
in exchange for a commitment to maintain operations, and at least 800 jobs, at Pactiv Evergreen’s paper mill in Canton through Dec. 31. Pactiv Evergreen closed the mill and terminated all its employees in May 2023.
RALEIGH
Unused meds get destroyed
A joint effort involving the State Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and N.C. National Guard resulted in the collection of 19,960 pounds of unused prescription medications as part of Operation Medicine Drop’s Spring Take Back Event and the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
That translates into about 15 million dosage units thanks to the citizens of North Carolina, who continue to fill drop boxes across the state at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, police departments and sheriffs’ offices with unused or expired medications. On May 1, the medications were safely and properly destroyed at an approved incinerator in Virginia.
Since 2013, OMD has collected about 351.9 million prescription pills.
Details: Visit morepowerfulnc.org.
ASHEVILLE
Scammers target TVs
Scammers can target victims through any device connected to the internet, and your television is no exception. BBB Scam Tracker has seen an influx of reports about scammers catching people off guard with pop-ups on their smart TVs. Their objective is to steal your personal information and money.
How the scam works:
You open a familiar streaming service on your smart TV. However, you can’t log in. Instead, a pop-up appears, telling you there is a problem with your device or your streaming subscription. You need to call a phone number or visit a website to fix it.
Don’t fall for it, the BBB says. If you call the number, scammers pretend to be customer service representatives. They will insist you pay an activation fee or allow them remote access to your smart TV. These con artists will get your credit or debit card number if you pay the fee.
In addition, double-check any fees you have to pay, don’t fall for fake websites, check before you call and ever let anyone control your device remotely. Don’t ever give control of your device to a stranger.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.