A Burke County man will spend at least 18 years in prison after pleading guilty, Wednesday, to trafficking in opiates by possession and trafficking in opiates by transportation during Burke County Superior Court. 35-year-old Franklin Raye Shell of Valdese was issued a sentence of 18 to 23 years by the Honorable W.Todd Pomeroy, Superior Court Judge from Lincoln County, following his guilty plea. The case was investigated by Scott Lanning of the Burke County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank Webster.

A 19-year-old male has been arrested in Burke County for murder. On Wednesday, Burke County Deputies received information from the Hickory Police Department about a possible deceased individual in Burke County from a gunshot wound at 1850 Hilferty Road in Hickory. When Burke County Deputies responded, they located a deceased male in a bedroom. The SBI was contacted to assist with the investigation and a search warrant was secured to process the scene. The victim had been shot in the chest and an investigation revealed a suspect by the name of Caleb Joseph Van Arsdale who was living at the Hilferty Road address. The suspec turned himself in to Hickory Police and during an interview with the Burke detectives, Van Arsdale admitted to shooting the victim and leaving the scene in the victim's vehicle. A warrant for the arrest was issued on Caleb Joseph Van Arsdale for the murder of Jacob Andrew Lucas of Belmont. Arsdale was transported to Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility where is being held without bond. A probable cause hearing is set for October 4th.