Greene posts bond in battle over who should be sheriff

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene has posted a $25,000 bond in the case of who should rightfully hold the sheriff’s seat.

Earlier this month former Sheriff Lewis Hatcher filed an injunction claiming he should still be in office. Hatcher gave a long list of reasons why Greene should not hold the title of Sheriff. Hatcher alleges, at the time of Greene’s swearing in last month, he did not have a certificate of election. Hatcher also says that the State Board of Elections said Hatcher is still the sheriff.

Greene beat Hatcher by 34 votes in November. Greene was sworn into office Dec. 3. But the State Board of Elections later said he should not have been sworn in because of protests and appeals in the race. Several people, including Hatcher, claim Greene is not a legal resident of Columbus County. Greene and his wife have explained to WWAY that they do live in a RV on property in Cerro Gordo. There are also questions about ballots at a Tabor City polling place on Election Day.

At a hearing this month about Hatcher’s injunction, a judge continued the case until Feb. 11. The judge also ordered Greene to post a $25,000 bond that would serve as the money that Hatcher lost during from not being the sheriff, if necessary.

Greene told WWAY this morning he would pay the bond today. This afternoon the Columbus County Clerk of Courts office confirmed Greene had made the payment.