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

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced that a Cherokee County Superior Court jury found Mark Edwin Jones, a 39-year-old Murphy, North Carolina man guilty of Sexual Offense Against a Child and Taking Indecent Liberties with a Child during the July 24th, 2017 Superior Court Session of Cherokee County preceded over by the Honorable Judge Martin B. Mcgee.

On April 10th, 2013 a report was made to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office alleging that Jones had sexually assaulted a female child under the age of 10 years. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Detective Tiffany Holland began conducting the investigation into the allegation. Detective Holland enlisted the assistance of HAVEN Child Advocacy Center in her investigation. After conducting additional interviews and collecting additional information, Detective Holland presented the case to the North Carolina Magistrate and obtained warrants for Jones’ arrest. Jones was arrested and was subsequently released upon posting a secure bond.

​After the two day trial, which began July 25th, 2017, Superior Court Judge Martin B. Mcgee sentenced Jones to a minimum of 300 months in the Division of Adult Corrections for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Upon release, Jones will be required to register for the remainder of his life and have no contact with the victim.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “Excellent work by Detective Holland and ADA John Hindsman. These are never easy cases both on the family and the investigators and court personnel who work them. We appreciate the jury’s verdict and the judge’s sentence to help keep our community and our youth safe.”

To report crime in Cherokee County, 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.
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Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the July 13th, 2017 arrest of 64 year old Glen Dale Mcafee and 44 year old Jennifer Ann Bryant both who listed Murphy, North Carolina addresses. The couple was arrested for Trafficking in Methamphetamine.

Shortly after 10 pm on July 12th, 2017, acting on information in a continuing investigation involving Mcafee and Bryant, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies served a search warrant looking for stolen items that were reportedly at the Sunny Point Road residence occupied by Mcafee and Bryant. During the search for the stolen goods, a second search warrant was served upon the discovery of suspected methamphetamine. During the searches, handguns, US currency, and several items believed to be stolen along with an extremely large quantity of methamphetamine and a sizable amount of marijuana, were seized from the residence.

Mcafee and Bryant were arrested at the Sunny Point residence and transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center where they are being held on a $200,000.00 secure bond for Trafficking in Methamphetamine. They both are scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on August 1st, 2017.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We continue our efforts to pursue those who continually flood our community with dangerous drugs. This investigation is far from over as we are pursuing the leads to track the stolen items to their rightful owners. This is the third time we have been to the residence and as you can see we do not come up empty. I also emphasize that we continue to seize drugs and guns at the same time which make for a very dangerous combination. We anticipate more charges in the near future.”

To report crime in Cherokee County, 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 July 05th, 2017 arrest of 31 year old David Ronald Anderson, of Murphy, North Carolina, for violations of the controlled substances laws of North Carolina.

Shortly after midnight July 05th, 2017 Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Hanging Dog Community of Cherokee County to investigate a suspicious incident. The initial nature of the call was that an individual at the residence was being held against their will. Upon arriving the scene, Deputies detained Anderson who was armed with a .38 caliber revolver. The Deputies patted down Anderson looking for additional weapons and discovered a large amount of methamphetamine along with a large amount of US currency upon the person of Anderson.

Officers with the Murphy Police Department and Cherokee Tribal Police assisted in the investigation. During the investigation no additional illegally possessed controlled substances were found and no information was discovered to corroborate the initial claim of an individual being held against their will at the residence.

Anderson was arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where the magistrate set a $50,000.00 secure bond for TRAFFIC IN METHAMPHETAMINE, POSS W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, MAINTAIN PLACE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. Anderson posted bond and is scheduled to be in Cherokee County District Court July 18th, 2017.

Sheriff Palmer remarked, “We thank Murphy and Cherokee Tribal Police Departments for assisting in this investigation. It had all the makings of a really bad situation. The responding deputies utilized their training and experience to follow through getting drugs, guns and cash off the street.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one 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.