Curtis Abraham Cochran
Bryson City – More than three weeks after news of his arrest and subsequent retirement shocked western North Carolina, former Swain County sheriff Curtis Abraham Cochran was placed behind bars once more on a new charge last week.
After a grand jury returned a true bill of indictment, agents with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation arrested the 72-year-old Cochran on July 21. He was assessed with second-degree forcible rape, a Class C felony.
Unlike the initial charges brought forth June 27, few details are available about the nature of the alleged incident, only that it was said to have taken place last month.
Cochran posted a $50,000 secured bond on the rape charge July 22 and was released from custody. He will appear in Swain County Superior Court at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Conditions of his release were to not leave North Carolina, have no contact with the alleged victim and not violate any other laws, according to court records. The prison term generally associated with the charge ranges from 44-182 months.
The office of District Attorney Ashley Welch filed a petition to have Cochran suspended after he was arrested and charged with felonious restraint, assault on a female, sexual battery and solicitation to commit prostitution June 27. Cochran was also charged with three violations of the Cherokee code, two counts of oppression in office and one count of abusive sexual contact.
The alleged incidents occurred on June 22 and June 23. Both were on the Qualla Boundary, and each instance allegedly involved Cochran picking up a female passenger under the guise of providing transportation in his county-issued vehicle. Cochran allegedly went on to ask the two victims for oral sex, which both objected to. Eventually, both were able to get away from Cochran.
The first incident was reported to the Cherokee Indian Police Department. The second occurred while authorities were beginning an investigation into the former and involved a tribal officer pulling over Cochran with what was later discovered to be a second victim in the passenger seat at the Tsali Care Center.
Cochran submitted his letter of resignation to the Swain County Board of Commissioners on July 1. He ran as a Republican, meaning that the Swain County Board of Commissioners will consult with the Swain GOP to appoint a replacement.
Cochran first took office as Swain County sheriff in December 2006 and successfully ran five re-election campaigns. His last victory came in 2022.
Reports indicate that at the time of his arrest, Cochran's annual salary was $102,205. Swain County Chief Deputy Brian Kirkland assumed the role of sheriff after Cochran was suspended.