Surf City mayoral candidate and sitting councilman Jeremy Shugarts has been indicted

Surf City mayoral candidate and sitting councilman Jeremy Shugarts has been indicted for election violations
By Port City Daily staff - August 28, 2019

https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2019/08/28/surf-city-mayoral-candidate-and-sitting-councilman-jeremy-shugarts-has-been-indicted-for-election-violations/

Surf City Councilman Jeremy Shugarts speaks at a recent council meeting. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Updated 9:45 a.m. — Surf City Councilman Jeremy Shugarts appeared at the Pender County Superior Court Annex this morning for his first appearance on six indictments of election violations.

Shugarts’ attorney during the hearing, Cathleen Sumner, issued the following statement: “Mr. Shugarts takes these charges very seriously and is prepared to address them in the proper forum.”

At the hearing, Shugarts said he will hire attorney Elliot S. Abrams of Raleigh to represent him in this matter. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, September 30.

SURF CITY — Surf City mayoral candidate and sitting councilman Jeremy Shugarts has been indicted on six counts of ‘election violation’ after a ‘citizen complaint’ regarding the residency of Shugarts was called into question.

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“In February of 2019, the District Attorney’s Office received a citizen complaint concerning the residency status of Jeremy Shugarts, a member of the Surf City Town Council. This is an elected position, which requires candidates to file ‘Notice of Candidacy’ and ‘Authorization to Vote’ forms with the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE). The complaint was forwarded to the NCSBE in Raleigh to investigate,” according to a press release from District Attorney Ben David.

Last week, the NCSBE submitted its report to David’s office at which time prosecutors decided there were violations of the law.

“On Monday, a Pender County Grand Jury indicted Shugarts on six counts of Election Violation (N.C.G.S. §163A-1389(4)). He was served with these indictments Tuesday evening,” according to the release.

Shugarts will have his first appearance Wednesday morning and Port City Daily will update this article after the hearing.

“This report was prepared by investigators in Raleigh, but the charges came from citizens of Pender County after reviewing all the facts. My office will now pursue this case in a courtroom,” District Attorney Ben David said.

“Since this is a pending matter, the District Attorney’s Office will not have any further comment on this case or the investigation at this time,” the release concluded.