The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the June 28th, 2016 arrest of 35-year-old David Shane Brown, who gave a Topton, North Carolina address and 28-year-old Heather Mason Stewart, who gave a Robbinsville, North Carolina address for charges involving possession of stolen goods.

Investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Macon County Sheriff’s Office worked together on a joint investigation where Brown and Mason were stealing and having in their possession stolen goods from residences in Macon County, North Carolina. During the joint investigation, stolen items were identified and retrieved at a residence in Andrews, North Carolina where the pair had been staying on and off.

Brown and Stewart were arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where they were charged with, Felony Possession of Stolen Goods.  Brown and Stewart were placed on a $10,000 secure bond awaiting a July 7th, 2016 District Court date.

The investigation continues and additional charges are anticipated.

Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the June 21st , 2016 arrest of 32-year-old Brandi Suzanne Haines who gave a Marble, North Carolina address for charges involving breaking and entering and domestic dispute.

During the afternoon hours of June 21st, 2016, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Peachtree community of Cherokee County to investigate a report of a domestic dispute involving Haines and another female. Upon the deputy’s arrival, he determined that there was probable cause to arrest Haines at the scene. Additionally, during the arrest, information became known that Haines had broken into another Peachtree community residence.

Haines was arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was charged with, BREAKING OR ENTERING, INJURY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, INTERFERE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, SIMPLE ASSAULT, MISDEMEANOR LARCENY. Haines was placed on a $2,000 secure bond awaiting a July 7th, 2016 District Court date.

Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County, you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress. 

The following press release has been issued by Towns County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.​

On Friday, June 17, 2016, deputies with the Towns County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Jay Chrisley, age 24, of Hayesville, North Carolina. Deputies responded to a suspicious person call in the area of Dune Road in Hiawassee, GA.

Chrisley was arrested on the following charges:

​1 Count Burglary 1st Degree;
3 Counts Burglary in the 2nd Degree;
2 Counts of Criminal Damage to Property (felony).

The 1st Degree burglary charge stemmed from a residence which had been entered.

The 2nd Degree burglary charges stemmed from watercraft that were entered.

The Criminal Damage charges stemmed from watercraft that were damaged in the area as well.

​This case is active and ongoing and additional charges are possible. 

As the school year winds down for local students, Tri-County Community College (TCCC) is preparing for its annual Kids College at both the main campus in Peachtree and the Graham County Center in Robbinsville.
 
“Our annual Kids College camps are a great opportunity for students to learn more about their personal interests or to discover a new hobby,” said Lisa Long, director of community outreach at TCCC. “We offer a diverse range of camps for all ages from first through 12th graders.”
 
The week-long camps kick off June 13 and will continue through August. Offerings include LEGO fun, 2D video game design, hand-built pottery, junior forestry camp, and more.
 
“Kids College gives students a designated space to engage in fun and educational subjects,” Long said. “This year we are also excited to announce our Special Family Discount, so that if a student registers for one class, the second class tuition will receive a 50 percent discount.”
 
For $40, students can enroll in the camp of their choosing, and the discounted registration may be used for the same child or a sibling.
 
“Seating for these courses is limited, so we encourage parents and students to register as soon as possible,” Long said. “All camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.”
 
To view a comprehensive list of all the 2016 Kids College offerings, log onto www.tricountycc.edu.
 
For more information or to register for one of the camps during TCCC’s annual Kids College, contact Long at 835-4241.

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced that during the June 6th setting of the Cherokee County Superior Court Gary Lee Mitchell made a plea to one count of First Degree Sex Offense With a Child. Mitchell was sentenced by the Honorable Jeffrey P. Hunt to an active sentence of no less than 240 months to 280 months and upon release register as a sex offender for life.

During the month of April 2014, allegations were made to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office that Mitchell had engaged in a sexual act with a child under 13 years of age.  With the assistance of the HAVEN Child Advocacy Center, investigators were able to gather enough information to present the case to the North Carolina Magistrate who issued an arrest a warrant for Mitchell’s arrest. Mitchell was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on May 7th, 2014 where he remained until he was transferred to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.

Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated, “An excellent example of teamwork such as involving HAVEN Child Advocacy Center as well as keeping our Assistant District Attorney informed early in our investigations that we are able to bring these horrible cases to resolve. My Office and my staff continue to protect our youth!”

To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law, please call 828-837-3144 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov. 

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Clay County Sheriff Vic Davis said on Thursday June 2, 2016, at approximately 1:00 AM, Clay County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a GMC Sonoma on Jack Rabbit Road for suspicion of DWI. Donald Ray Barnhill of Young Harris, GA was found to be the driver of the vehicle.
 
A Clay County K-9 Unit was on scene at the time of the stop and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine was discovered. Barnhill is also a registered sex offender.
 
Barnhill was arrested and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a $10,000 secured bond and is still in the Clay County Detention Center. He also received a $20,000 secured bond on a fugitive warrant out of Cherokee County, GA for failing to register as a sex offender.
 
Sheriff Davis said he is glad to see his deputies getting more meth off the streets, but even more so he is pleased to see a potentially dangerous sex offender off the streets as well. Sheriff Davis said there may also be more charges forthcoming is this incident is investigated further. 

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

On Friday June 3, 2016, at approximately 8:41 PM, a Clay County Sheriff Deputy stopped a Jeep driven by Matthew Don Mueller on Business 64. During the traffic stop it was discovered Mueller’s driver’s license was revoked. A Clay County K-9 Unit was also deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
 
Mueller was then told to exit the vehicle. Instead of exiting his vehicle, he started the Jeep and drove off. Clay County deputies pursued Mueller onto Highway 64 East, then down Highway 69 heading toward Georgia. Once Mueller was met by another deputy, he turned back and ended up traveling west on Highway 64 West toward Murphy where he eventually crossed into Cherokee County.
 
Once in Cherokee County, deputies from Cherokee County joined the pursuit. Mueller eventually took his Jeep off road where he eventually got it hung up on a telephone pole that had been cut. Mueller then fled from his vehicle on foot. Clay County and Cherokee County deputies searched the area but were unable to locate Mueller. Mueller has multiple charges for his arrest with other charges pending.
 
Mueller, 30, has a Murphy address and Clay County Sheriff Vic Davis requests anyone with any knowledge of Mueller’s whereabouts call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 828-389-6354.  

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the May 31st, 2016 arrest of 32-year-old Brandon Scott Goforth, who gave a Hayesville, North Carolina address for charges stemming from an embezzlement of funds investigation involving a local volunteer fire department.

During an audit of funds being held by the Culberson Volunteer Fire Department, several discrepancies were noticed which were brought to the attention of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. During the 3 month investigation, it was alleged that Goforth converted funds in excess of $50,000 for his personal use.

Goforth was arrested and charged with 17 counts of Embezzlement of Funds and 17 Counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense. Goforth was released upon making a $10,000 secure bond and is scheduled to be in Cherokee County District Court on June 15th , 2016.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We appreciate the boldness and honesty of current members that brought this to our attention and glad to see the current board has and is continuing to make changes to ensure a stricter accounting procedure is in place.”

​Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone with information on this crime or any other to report it.  To report crime in Cherokee County, you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.