Posted on 02/25/2010 1:48:56 PM PST by MitchellC
WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – A judge accepted a guilty plea entered by North Carolina's longest-serving legislator Thursday afternoon.
R.C. Soles entered a guilty plea for A1 misdemeanor assault with deadly weapon in court, just before 2:15.
Soles turned himself into authorities in January after being indicted by a Grand Jury. The Columbus County Democrat admitted to shooting 22-year-old Kyle Blackburn in the leg at the senator's home in Tabor City last August.
Click here to read the official indictment [PDF]
The 75-year-old claims he shot Blackburn in self defense after Blackburn and 23-year-old Billie Wright kicked at his door. Soles is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Blackburn has since recovered from the shooting.
During the trial, the state used a 40-minute surveillance tape taken at Soles' home during the time of the shooting as evidence. They say the senator's guilty plea was "a reasonable resolution to the matter."
Soles' attorney said the state gave a fair account of what happened the night of the shooting, and that the senator wanted to take responsibility for his actions. He will pay more than $1,000 in court costs.
According to police reports, Blackburn had tried to kick in the senator's door prior to this incident. The young man was charged with attempted breaking and entering in September 2008.
View Blackburn's public record
The senator's hearing has been postponed twice because of scheduling conflicts with Soles' attorney. It is expected to begin Thursday afternoon at 2:00.
After 42 years in office, Soles announced in December he would not seek re-election.
Doesn’t this Soles guy have a “wide stance”?
Something sounds fishy
A town in North Carolina named Whiteville? Where are the PC police on this one?
His guilty plea keeps the little thugs he’d been keeping all these years off the stand, no?
That’s what people say. There was an accusation of child molestation last year that was rescinded.
The SBI was investigating Soles for something last year, so they may still get another shot.
It’s pronounced “Whide-vuhl”. And I’d not recommend the PC police show up there to complain about the name.
Heck, we still have a “Whitey’s Restaurant” here in Wilmington.
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