Tag: beaufort county

Aurora man Tyran Dixon sentenced in fentanyl overdose death case

Read the original article on the WCTI ABC12 News website.

An Aurora man has been sentenced to prison following a fatal fentanyl overdose and narcotics investigation, according to the Beaufort County District Attorney’s Office.

Tyran Dixon pleaded guilty on Aug. 12 to death by distribution, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also admitted to violating probation, according to the Beaufort County DA’s office.

The case stems from the December 2023 death of 24-year-old Jaquan Cannon. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office found Cannon unresponsive inside a vehicle on Peedtown Road in Aurora. The Beaufort County DA’s office said a toxicology report determined he died from acute fentanyl toxicity.

Investigators determined Cannon arranged to purchase fentanyl from Dixon the night before his death, according to the district attorney’s office. In May 2024, a search of Dixon’s Aurora residence uncovered trafficking amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Superior Court Judge Seth Edwards sentenced Dixon to 110 to 144 months for death by distribution, 90 to 120 months for fentanyl trafficking and 70 to 93 months for methamphetamine trafficking. Those sentences will run concurrently.

The Beaufort County DA’s office said that Dixon has to serve at least 110 months, or 9 years and 2 months, before becoming eligible for release. That sentence will begin after Dixon serves an additional 10 to 21 months for his probation violation.

Aurora man gets 12 years in overdose death

Tyran Dixon

BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – An Aurora man will spend the next 12 years in state prison after his guilty plea in a drug overdose death case.

Beaufort County District Attorney Tom Anglim says Tyran Dixon pleaded guilty to death by distribution, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The man also admitted to violating terms of a probationary sentence he was serving when the death happened.

Jaquan Cannon was found dead on December 11, 2023 inside a vehicle on Peedtown Road outside of Aurora.

Anglim says their investigation showed that Cannon bought fentanyl from Dixon the day before he died.

Judge Seth Edwards sentenced Dixon to serve between 9 years, 2 months and 12 years on the death and drug charges, and between 10 months and a year, 9 months for the probation violation.

The judge also ordered Dixon to pay a $750,000 fine and restitution to Cannon’s family.

Fourth suspect in 2024 death by distribution case apprehended, held without bond

Read the original article on the WCTI12 website.

Justin Whitmer Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with a death by distribution case that occurred in June of 2024, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Hodges Rd. in Chocowinity, in reference to a female who was unresponsive on June 23, 2024. The victim was identified as Jacquelin Halley Hodges, and deputies started giving aid until EMS arrived on the scene. Jacquelin passed away after arriving at ECU Beaufort Hospital, BCSO says.

A preliminary investigation was conducted that evening by deputies, and a thorough follow-up investigation was conducted by Detectives. BCSO Detectives presented the case to the Beaufort County Grand Jury, following the conclusion of the investigation, and indictments were issued to four individuals in April of 2025 in relation to Hodge’s death.

Justin Whitmer, 39, of Newport News, VA, was arrested on Dec. 16, Newport, and was transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center on Dec. 22, 2025, and received no bond. Whitmer was the fourth arrest as a result of a 2024 Death by Distribution case.

He faces the following charges:

  • Felony Death by Distribution
  • Second Degree Murder (felony)
Brandy Kinion Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

Brandy Kinion, 42, of Chocowinity, was arrested on April 21 and was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where she received a $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:

  • Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)
  • Accessory after the Fact (felony)
Eric Wiggins Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

Eric Wiggins, 42, of Chocowinity, was confined on unrelated charges and was served in the Beaufort County Detention Center on April 21. Wiggins received an additonal $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:

  • Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)
Layla Hoffman Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

Layla Hoffman, 32, of Chocowinity, was arrested at the LAX International Airport in California on May 13, after deputies coordinated with federal law enforcement to arrest her when she returned to the United States, BCSO says. Deputies flew took custody of Hoffman on June 11. Deputies transported Hoffman back to Beaufort County, where she was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $1,000,000 bond for the following charges:

  • Felony Death by Distribution
  • Second Degree Murder (felony)

Deputies with sheriff’s office now serving as School Resource Officers in Beaufort County

Read the original article on the WNCT 9 On Your Side website.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — Students in Beaufort County Schools were welcomed back this week with help from the sheriff’s office.

Deputies served as School Resource Officers throughout schools in the district. They’re replacing a third party police force used for the past three years.

There are 13 deputies, meaning each school in the district gets one. On the first day of school, SROs were seen greeting students at car rider lines, giving them high fives and tying their shoes in the hallways.

Having the local sheriff’s office provide school security has been a work in progress since winter.

“To be honest, there’s nothing better than your local sheriff’s department being able to provide school resource officers into our schools each and every day,” Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Cheeseman said. “And through that, you’ll see them out at our athletic contests, extracurricular activities and so let’s celebrate them as they celebrate and protect our students and staff. Perfect.”

In order to become a SRO, a 40-hour SRO certification programs has to be completed. During that training, school security is practiced in addition to courses on ethics and leadership.

Each SRO is a sworn police officer and is armed. They’ll be making sure buildings are secure, alarm systems are working, doors are not propped and students and staff feel safe.

Translate »