Chief deputy escorted from building after scuffle during swearing-in
Robbinsville – What started as a continued meeting to swear in a temporary sheriff ended with the chief deputy being led from the Graham County Community Building.
Exercising its right under North Carolina General Statute 162-5.1(a), "Vacancy filled in certain counties; duties performed by coroner or chief deputy," the Graham County Board of Commissioners continued its Feb. 20 meeting to Friday, hoping for resolution in court regarding Brad Hoxit's suspension from the office of sheriff. Instead, Friday's session turned into a pre-trial motion hearing – and the board elected to continue Friday's meeting into Monday, where the board announced Russell Moody as the temporary replacement for the role. The vote was a universal 4-0.
The meeting was once again continued into Tuesday, which allowed the county time to receive Moody's disclosure statement from the N.C. Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission – as well as make sure Moody was bonded.
Once both were unanimously accepted by the board in a 4-0 vote – with commissioner Jacob Nelms recusing himself from voting, due to ongoing legal proceedings involving Hoxit – Holloway swore Moody into office.
N.C. G.S. 162-5.1(a) reads, "If any vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county shall execute all process directed to the sheriff until the board of county commissioners shall appoint a sheriff to supply the vacancy for the residue of the term, who shall possess the same qualifications, enter into the same bond, and be subject to removal, as the sheriff regularly elected."
With all the legalities out of the way, Holloway invited deputies forward to be sworn in after Moody. They were administered the oath, before things went south.
Parties separated
Chief Deputy Travis Brooks had assumed the duties and responsibilities of the office of sheriff on an interim basis following Hoxit's suspension, until the board's Feb. 20 meeting – per N.C. G.S. 162-5(a), "Vacancy filled; duties performed by coroner or chief deputy."
"If any vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county shall execute all process directed to the sheriff until the first meeting of the board of county commissioners next succeeding such vacancy, when the board of county commissioners shall appoint a sheriff to supply the vacancy for the residue of the term, who shall possess the same qualifications, enter into the same bond, and be subject to removal, as the sheriff regularly elected."
Since Graham County does not have a coroner, the role fell to Brooks – who stood among the other deputies as Holloway administered the oath of office. Moody approached several deputies while they were signing paperwork for the clerk of court's office and it's unclear what was said between Brooks and Moody, but Brooks tore his paper into several pieces and laid it on a table while Moody asked, "Are you listening to me?"
Brooks turned to leave, bumping Moody in the chest. Moody then grabbed Brooks by the arm as the two men began shouting, which led to nearby officers quickly separating both individuals. Brooks was led out of the room and did not return.
Once things settled down, Holloway administered oaths to detention center employees.
Russell Moody
A former emergency medical technician, Moody was elected Graham County Sheriff in 2006 and served the entirety of his term. He attended the N.C. Sheriffs' Leadership Institute, where he underwent four, one-week training programs over a period of two years for first-time sheriffs.
Moody ran for sheriff in 2022, finishing as runner-up to Hoxit. He closed out Tuesday's gathering by emphasizing that he scheduled a mandatory staff meeting after The Star's Wednesday press deadline.
"This has me really flustered. Travis and I were really close, back when I was sheriff the last time," Moody said. "I'm just really disappointed. I'm not looking to fire anybody. That's what I told Mr. Brooks. I may shuffle some people around when I find out your strengths and your weaknesses, but that's my decision. I apologize that y'all had to see that. I'm not sure why that happened; I wasn't expecting that.
"I'm here to help. I'm here to help the commissioners; it's very humbling that they've asked me to do this. I'm here to honor the Lord, do what's right and help the deputies of this county, and to restore the trust of this office back to our community."