Bobby Huel Pastell
Asheville – A Robbinsville resident who has been linked to a pair of past death by distribution cases was arrested in Buncombe County on Saturday, after initially eluding authorities in a neighboring county.
Bobby Huel Pastell, 33 of the Tallulah community was located along with 29-year-old Marble resident Viviane Shae Cheeks at a residence in east Asheville, just hours after the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office attempted to arrest the pair at an Airbnb off U.S. 74 West.
The series of events began Friday. According to a release from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the narcotics division had already launched an investigation into Pastell and Cheeks – regarding drug trafficking across multiple counties in western North Carolina. A Cherokee County resident purportedly reported "suspected drug activity" at the Airbnb, which Cheeks' arrest warrant lists as 55 Bluebird Valley Dr., in Marble.
Pastell and Cheeks were tipped off while officers were en route; authorities recovered three ounces of suspected fentanyl – as well as Pastell's driver's license – after arriving at the scene. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office soon learned that the two suspects had fled for Asheville.
Early Saturday morning, narcotics agents with the office – working in conjunction with the Clay County Sheriff's Office, the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office – arrested Pastell and Cheeks without incident. Both individuals were transported to the Buncombe County Detention Center.
"This case is a perfect example of what can happen when citizens and law enforcement work together," Cherokee County Sheriff Chris Wood said in the release. "The information provided by an alert citizen helped move this investigation forward, and I encourage anyone who sees suspicious or criminal activity to continue reporting it. Those calls truly make a difference.
"I’m also incredibly proud of the tireless work of our narcotics investigators, who acted quickly to locate these suspects and worked seamlessly with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and the Asheville Police Department.”
Collectively, Pastell was charged with two counts of trafficking in fentanyl; as well as trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance.
Cheeks was issued charges of possession of methamphetamine; possession of fentanyl; and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance.
All of the charges are felonies. The release also indicated that more charges could be assessed.
Pastell has twice been arrested in Graham County and charged with death by distribution. The first occurred in July 2021, following the March 25, 2021 death of 30-year-old Casey Allen Phillips. The case remained on the books until Oct. 28, 2024, when the District Attorney's office cited an inability to locate key witnesses and dropped the charge.
In the aftermath of 35-year-old Peachtree resident Lauren Jane Sams passing away at a home in the Mountain Creek community Dec. 28, 2024, Pastell was again charged with death by distribution Jan. 14, 2025. A March 3, 2025 judgment from 30th District Court Judge Kaleb Wingate found that no probable cause was found to proceed with the charge.