MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The McDowell County Sheriffโs Office reports a couple were arrested after child tested positive for drugs.
A detective spoke with 39-year-olds Preston and Bethany Hensley on Jan. 13 after a referral from the McDowell County Department of Social Services, officials said.
Deputies report an investigation led to the children in the Hensleyโs home being tested for narcotics exposure. A search warrant was also executed at their residence in Marion before 17 grams of cocaine were located.
Preston & Bethany Hensley(McDowell County Sheriff’s Office)
The Hensleyโs were both charged with exposing a child to a controlled substance, possession of cocaine and maintain a vehicle, dwelling or place for controlled substance.
Bethany was issued a $75,000 secured bond on the first charge and a $20,000 secured bond for the other two. Preston was initially denied bond for the first charge due to being out on pretrial release. He was issued a $25,000 bond for the other charges.
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – A Pamlico County man and woman are in jail under multi-million dollar bonds after their arrest on Wednesday for drug trafficking.
The Neuse River Narcotics Task Force stopped a vehicle on U.S. 70 near the Tuscarora Rhems Road exit.
Inside were Choncey Sawyer, Jenna Barnes, and a three-year-old child, along with fentanyl and cocaine, according to deputies.
Sawyer, 34, of Bayboro, is charged with two felony counts trafficking fentanyl, felony conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for sale of controlled substance, and felony exposing a child to control substances.
The 30-year-old Barnes, of Grantsboro, is charged with two felony counts trafficking fentanyl, felony conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for sale of controlled substance, and felony exposing a child to control substances.
The two were charged under a new law that makes it a felony for anyone to allow someone under 16 to be exposed to drugs.
Sawyer, who was already awaiting trial on other drug charges, was given a $4-million bond, while Barnes is being held on a $2-million bond.
The child was turned over to family members, according to deputies.
A man in McDowell County, North Carolina, has been charged after a 22-year-old’s death was ruled an overdose.
On July 10, 2025, the McDowell County Sheriffโs Office responded to a call regarding a cardiac arrest.
When deputies arrived, they found Garrett Shepard dead at a home.
McDowell County Sheriff’s Office
In February 2026, an autopsy reported Shephard had died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his body. There were no signs of trauma or injury.
Investigators determined 46-year-old James Curtis Johnson was responsible for distributing the drugs to Shepard and was charged with felony death by distribution.
โThis case is a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences tied to fentanyl and illegal drug distribution,โ said Chief Deputy Nathan Mace. โWhen individuals choose to sell or share these substances, they are putting lives at riskโand in this case, it cost a young man his life.”
Allen Carter of Fayetteville is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a three-year-old. (Hoke County Sheriffโs Office)
RAEFORD, N.C. (WNCN) โ A continued investigation has led to a Fayetteville man being charged with murder in the death of a three-year-old child, according to the Hoke County Sheriffโs Office.
The investigation began Dec. 4, 2025, after an unresponsive child was brought to a local hospital and pronounced dead by medical staff, the sheriffโs office said.
Investigators with the sheriffโs office began a death investigation, which led to information that warranted bringing in the Criminal Investigation Division to search a home in the 1500 block of Campbell Road the night of Dec. 5, 2025.
The sheriffโs office said the search was a multiagency affair, with K-9, Special Operations and Narcotics/Vice Suppression units assisting in the search. During the search, the sheriffโs office said drugs and guns were recovered from the home.
Allen Carter and Bridget Leach, who had no relation to the child who died, according to the sheriffโs office, were arrested on gun and drug charges as a result of the search of the home. The sheriffโs office said they were both taken into custody โwithout incidentโ.
Court documents show Carter is charged with possession of scheduled one controlled substance, obstructing justice, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule six controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule one controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance.
Leach, according to court documents, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule six controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule one controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Monday, deputies say further investigation led the sheriffโs office to charge Carter with second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, exposing a child to a controlled substance, and felony child abuse.
According to his arrest warrant, Carter is to have alleged to โknowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life cause or permit a child to be exposed to a controlled substance (Fentanyl)โ.
At his first court appearance on Tuesday, Carter was given a $1 million secured bond, according to the sheriffโs office. His next court appearance is listed for March 25.
