North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

Nov 25, 2025

4th Circuit largely upholds drug-gang murder convictions

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed most of the convictions arising from a violent Northern Virginia drug-trafficking enterprise, concluding that the jury reasonably found two defendants guilty of […]

Sep 18, 2024

Combs jailed after sex trafficking indictment

NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs was headed to jail Tuesday to await trial in his federal sex trafficking case, after a magistrate ordered him to be held without bail […]

Dec 8, 2023

Judge sentences last suspects in Whitmer kidnap plot

A judge handed down the last sentences Thursday in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sending one man to prison and putting another on probation, the climax to […]

Apr 9, 2018

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping, Sexual Assault & Misdemeanor Assault – Separate Restraint

After defendant sexually assaulted the victim, defendant pulled the victim off the bed by his ankles, and then began kicking the victim. There was sufficient restraint – separate from the […]

Feb 21, 2017

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping – Restraint in Assault – Evidence – Prior Imprisonment – Unpreserved Issue

State v. China (Lawyers Weekly No. 011-057-17, 14 pp.) (Valerie Zachary, J.) (Chris Dillon, J., concurring in part & dissenting in part) Appealed from Durham County Superior Court (Henry Hight […]

Jan 4, 2017

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping – Asportation – Armed Robbery – Home Invasion

State v. Curtis (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-019-17, 1 p.) (Per Curiam) Appealed from Forsyth County Superior Court (Ronald Spivey, J.) On appeal from the Court of Appeals. N.C. S. Ct. […]

Aug 10, 2016

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping – Restraint – Purpose – Safe Place

State v. James (Lawyers Weekly No. 011-272-16, 18 pp.) (Donna Stroud, J.) Appealed from Guilford County Superior Court (Stanley Allen, J.) N.C. App. Holding: Even though, after defendant assaulted the […]

Jul 20, 2016

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping – ‘Released in a Safe Place’ – Wooded Area

State v. Gordon (Lawyers Weekly No. 011-243-16, 16 pp.) (Lucy Inman, J.) Appealed from Guilford County Superior Court (R. Stuart Albright, J.) N.C. App. Holding: Even though defendant released the […]

Jun 30, 2016

Wake County prosecutor targeted in kidnapping case suspended

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Wake County prosecutor whose father was kidnapped by a gang leader she prosecuted has been put on paid leave while the district attorney looks into […]

Mar 21, 2016

Criminal Practice – Kidnapping – Constitutional – Unanimous Verdict – Disjunctive Jury Instructions

State v. Walters (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-013-16, 9 pp.) (Robin Hudson, J.) (Sam Ervin IV, J., not participating) Appealed from Robeson County Superior Court (William Pittman, J.) On discretionary review […]

Aug 25, 2015

2 former NC prison officers indicted in kidnap probe

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two former North Carolina correctional officers have been indicted as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the kidnapping of a prosecutor’s father. U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker […]

Jul 16, 2015

Insurance — No Duty to Defend ‘Kidnapping’ Suit

Liberty University Inc. v. Citizens Ins. Co. of America (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-01-0708, 32 pp.) (Thacker, J.) No. 14-2254, July 10, 2015; USDC at Lynchburg, Va. (Moon, J.) 4th Cir. […]