Soles charged with assault with a deadly weapon

COLUMBUS CO., NC (WWAY) — The controversy surrounding R.C. Soles continues as the former state senator once again faces criminal charges. Soles is accused of beating a man on his property Saturday morning.

The former senator faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting Frankie Lee Jernigan in the face with a metal cane.

Tabor City Police say Jernigan sought out police Tuesday, three days after the incident reportedly happened, to tell them Soles had assaulted him. The officer on duty told Jernigan to file a report, and he did. That led police to file a criminal summons for assault with a deadly weapon.

Tabor City Police Capt. Dean Foley delivered the summons to Soles at his law firm this morning. He said Soles was calm about it.

“He was pleasant as usual,” Capt. Foley said. “He just stated he hated we’re caught in the middle again between the actions of a few.”

Foley said Jernigan is one of those few who make extra work for the police department. He said the troublemakers shed a negative light on Tabor City and stretch the police department’s resources.

Back in April, Tabor City Police say Jernigan and his wife Danielle were hanging out in Soles’s driveway. Soles called the police to report the couple. They claimed they were invited to the house and ran out of gas and couldn’t leave. Soles told police he had not invited them, but then took Jernigan to get some gas.

Also in April, Stacey Scott, who says he’s had sexual relationships with Soles, told a similar story. He said he’d been visiting with Soles when the senator hit him in the leg with a pipe. He also said Soles put a gun to his head and said, “If you tell anyone about this, I will blow your f*****g head off.”

Soles is scheduled to be in court on October 21 on the charge.