STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — Stanly County Commissioners voted 3-2 to censure Commissioner Trent Hatley, and to spend up to $10,000 to hire an attorney to conduct an outside ethics investigation into his alleged actions.
In August, Erin Pinkston accused Stanly County Commissioner Hatley of calling a judge at home to discuss a civil case against her ex-husband.
Prior to the vote, Tuesday, Commissioner Billy Mills address Hatley by asking him, “Did you reach out to Court Judge Vang concerning pending judicial investigation?”
“Mr. Mills I have never violated my oath of office as county commissioner,” Hatley responded. “I have never violated my ethical obligation as a county commissioner. That’s all I have to say.”
Mills asked again, “Okay. I just want to ask you one more. Did you reach out to Judge Vang in a pending investigations?”
Hatley responded, “That’s all I got to say.”
Chairmen Scott Efird recused himself from the discussion because he shares the same attorney as the woman that brought up a complaint about Hatley. Hatley also rescued himself from the vote.
Vice Chair Bill Lawhon voted no because he didn’t want to spend tax dollars.
Channel 9 searched court records and found a judge did recuse himself from a case involving Pinkston. It was dated July 21. At the time, Channel 9 reached out to Hatley for a comment, but he did not respond.
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