A former State Trooper pleaded guilty to simple assault Monday, during Caldwell County District Court. 45-year-old Christopher Todd Hughes of Lenoir, entered the guilty plea and was given a 30-day suspended sentence with 12 months of unsupervised probation by District Court Judge Sherri Elliott. Hodges, who resigned his position following an internal investigation by the NCSHP shortly after the June 4th incident, was involved in an off-duty incident in which he used excessive force on a DWI suspect who was in custody of another State Trooper. The DA's Office requested a full investigation by the SBI prior to charges being filed. As a result pf former Trooper Hodges' actions, all charges issued by Hodges that were pending as of the date of the June 4th incident were dismissed.

A 26-year-old Hickory man was sentenced to at least 5 years after pleading guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. Dustin Queen pleaded guilty to the charges on October 3rd and was sentenced Monday in Catawba County Superior Court. In June 2015 the defendant went into Fast Express No.2 on Fairgrove Church Road, displayed a handgun to the clerk and took cash from the register, before fleeing the scene. He was arrested and charged with the crime in October 2015 after investigators obtained video surveillance that identified Queen as a suspect. Queen's possession of firearm by felon charge is a result of a February 2012 felony larceny conviction in Iredell County. His prison term is 5-8 years.

The State Board of Elections reassures voters that the touch-screen voting machines are accurate. In a press release, the Board of Elections states it wants to ensure voters that safeguards are in place to for touch-screen machines to accurately record voter's selections. Voters in several counties have contacted advocacy groups or elections officials with concerns about voting machines. The release states the machines are tested thoroughly before each election, and they are recalibrated daily before voting begins, to test and ensure accuracy. Voters who notice an issue with a machine are urged to notify an election official immediately. If necessary, the machine will be taken out of service and the voter moved to a different machine. Election officials also urge voters to carefully review their selections before casting their ballots, and to promptly report any questions or concerns.

Early voting Tuesday in Burke County saw 1855 ballots cast. The total since Thursday at the five Burke County early voting sites is 11,135. Democrats have cast 4160 ballots, Republicans 4291, Unaffiliated 2657 and Libertarians 27. Early voting continues through Satuday November 4th with the Election Day Tuesday November 8th.