Local News
Case against Johnston County magistrate without merit
A Johnston County judge backed Magistrate Sam Blake Jr. Thursday, dismissing a petition for his removal from office.
Posted — UpdatedSMITHFIELD, N.C. — A Johnston County judge backed Magistrate Sam Blake Jr. Thursday, dismissing a petition for his removal from office.
Candy Pinkus, of Clayton, had filed the petition in January, saying Blake had been rude and unprofessional with her. Chief District Court Judge Albert A. Corbett Jr., in ordering the petition dismissed, wrote that Pinkus' petition "does not set forth grounds for removal" of Blake.
The dismissal does not mean that Blake is in the clear, however. He faces a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats while on duty. According to the State Bureau of Investigation, Blake told a criminal suspect, "If I catch you over there, I'll shoot and kill you."
Another police officer alleged Blake has called other magistrates racist. In all, the county has more than 180 pages of documented complaints against Blake.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
