State Bureau of Investigation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians police arrested Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran Friday, the district attorney’s office said.
According to a news release from the District Attorney of Prosecutorial District 43, Cochran, 72, has been charged with four crimes: felonious restraint; assault on a female; sexual battery; and solicitation to commit prostitution.
Cochran has also been charged with two violations of the Cherokee Code: counts of oppression in office and one count of abusive sexual contact, the district attorney’s statement said.
District Attorney Ashley Welch requested that a Superior Court judge immediately suspend Cochran from his position as sheriff.
She also requested that “the judge order a hearing to both permanently remove Cochran as sheriff and to permanently disqualify him from the office of Sheriff of Swain County.”
“The alleged acts, if proved, constitute corruption while in office in violation of N.C. General Statute 128-6(3),” Welch’s statement said.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers suspended Cochran and set a hearing in Graham County for July 7 to review the suspension. A final determination on Welch’s petition to remove Cochran from his elected seat will be conducted in Swain County on July 21.
Swain County Sheriffs' Office issued a statement Chief Deputy Brian Kirkland will perform all the duties of the sheriff "during the suspension period until the statutory process of filling the vacancy is completed."
"Please feel secure that there will be no disruption in the services provided by the Swain County Sheriff's Office as a result of this situation. The men and women of the Swain County Sheriff's Office remain committed to serving and protecting the citizens and residents of Swain County," Kirkland said in a statement on Facebook.
Kirkland concluded that the Sheriff’s Office would not be able to make "any further statements" about the criminal investigation.
