ANSON COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A three-year-long legal battle over a controversial sheriff appointment comes to an end.
The controversy began when then-Sheriff Landric Reid died unexpectedly in 2022.
Chief Deputy Scott Howell took over as interim sheriff, as appointed by the county board of commissioners to serve the remainder of the term, which was in line with county statutes.
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At the time, Sheriff Reid was a Democrat and was the only name listed on the ballot for the upcoming election. While Sheriff Howell took over, the law allowed for the Democratic Party to pick his replacement.
The party chose Sgt. Gerald Cannon.
The Anson County Democratic Party argued that commissioners should have appointed their replacement nominee over Howell, as Sheriff Reid had been elected as the Democratic nominee due to a general statute. However, the statute did not include Anson County as it explained the appointment for a sheriff vacancy was to be made only by the board acting on their own discretion.
Anson County commissioners discussed the sheriff’s vacancy during a closed session at a meeting on Dec. 1, 2022, but took no action. During the open session, a commissioner announced that the board would resolve the issue on Dec 6. Commissioners voted 4-3 to appoint Howel for the next four years.
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Sgt. Cannon filed a 23-page lawsuit against Sheriff Howell, alleging that he blocked him from an office he was voted into.
Following this came several court rulings in favor of Sheriff Howell, which Cannon appealed to the NC Court of Appeals.
The appeals court ruled that Cannon was appointed at an unlawful meeting and upheld the court’s ruling in favor of Howell.
On Friday, March 21, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued an order by a 6 – 1 vote upholding the decision of the Court of Appeals, confirming that Sheriff Howell was properly appointed.
“It’s good to put this issue to rest,” Howell said. “My staff and I have served the citizens of Anson County faithfully since this issue and court proceedings began. Our jobs are protecting our citizens. We were never distracted or lost sight of who is important here. I look forward to continuing to serve Anson County and our citizens with honesty, compassion, integrity and professionalism during the next two years and beyond.”
