Curtis Cochran
Bryson City – On the same day that Curtis Cochran made his first court appearance related to a June 27 arrest on four charges related to alleged sexual misconduct, he retired from his role as Swain County Sheriff.
The 72-year-old Cochran was suspended the same day of his arrest. A review of the suspension was scheduled to be held in Graham County Superior Court on Monday, but the retirement negated the hearing. Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers did have officials document what had transpired for the record while in session Monday.
Cochran submitted his letter of resignation to the Swain County Board of Commissioners, which released a statement July 3.
"The Swain County Board of Commissioners will promptly proceed with filling the vacant position and appointing a sheriff in accordance with the procedures set forth in North Carolina General Statute 162-5.1," reads a portion of the statement.
Cochran ran as a Republican, meaning that the Swain County Board of Commissioners will consult with the Swain GOP and appoint a replacement within a 30-day window of the vacancy. He first took office as Swain County sheriff in December 2006 and successfully ran five re-election campaigns. His last victory came in 2022.
News of Cochran's arrest and suspension caught many off-guard, while also making national headlines. The office of District Attorney Ashley Welch filed a petition June 27 to have Cochran suspended after he was arrested and charged with felonious restraint, assault on a female, sexual battery and solicitation to commit prostitution. 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 both 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.
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.
Swain County Chief Deputy Brian Kirkland assumed the role of sheriff after Cochran was suspended.