Is Johnston Out
at Sheriff's Office?

Shelly Johnston (center) is one of two women currently
serving on the Lincoln County Planning Board. File Photo/TCS

By Jon Mayhew (Lincolnton) -- The Carolina Scoop learned Monday afternoon the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office public relations spokesperson may have either been reassigned or resigned from her office.

A source told The Carolina Scoop Rick Hensley has "replaced" Johnston, who also served as victim's advocate.

While Johnston has made no announcement regarding her future at the LCSO, close ally Stacey Bryant, who was hired as a public information specialist a couple of months ago, abruptly resigned as of last week.

If Johnston has, in fact, resigned from the LCSO, the resignation ends her one-year employment with the organization. Calls seeking comment from Rick Hensley and Johnston were not returned as of Monday night.

The newspaper reecntly ran an article on Johnston, pointing out she was effectively "triple dipping" from the taxpayers of Lincoln County.

Besides working on the Sheriff's staff at the time of the original article, Johnston also served on the Lincoln County Planning Board, receiving a taxpayer-funded stipend. Her service on the Planning Board is a direct conflict of interest since Lincoln County Commisisoners give $8,500 per year to the Arts Council of Lincoln County, where Johnston also serves as Executive Director.

On Johnston's planning board application, she failed to list the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office as her current or former employer. A source within county government told The Carolina Scoop county commissioners may be considering whether to allow Johnston to keep serving on the Lincoln County Planning Board after Sheriff Tim Daugherty's criminal trial and removal hearing.

County Commissioner Bruce Carlton of Denver is the commissioner overseeing appointments to county boards. Johnston also once lived in Denver but now lives in western Lincoln County.

When she was appointed, commissioner Carrol Mitchem was the only dissenting vote towards her appointment.

"She hasn't lived in the North Brook township for very long," said Mitchem. West Lincoln businessman and resident Sam Houser had also applied for the same planning board seat but withdrew his application when he did not get the seat.

The Carolina Scoop asked at least one other commissioner if he was aware Johnston has worked for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office for over a year. The answer was "no."

Commissioners generally try to shy away from putting county employees on public boards and committees. The planning board was Johnston's first choice, followed by the Pathways Board of Directors and the Recreation Commission.

The application was dated -- with Johnston's signature -- for July 8, 2009. The Carolina Scoop obtained the document and the supporting information on Lincoln County's contribution to the Arts Council through the North Carolina Public Records Law, a law Johnston believes does not exist.

Her boss, Lincoln County Sheriff Tim Daugherty, was indicted earlier this year on felony obstruction of justice charges and misdemeanor lying to an investigator.

Daugherty's trial is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2010, while the removal hearing for the Sheriff is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2010.

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