The candidates in this year’s primary elections have been able to boast an assortment of professional, civic, and political backgrounds in their pursuit of various countywide offices.
Equally varied, although not nearly as well publicized, are the court records that these political hopefuls have accumulated in North Carolina.
As a public service to area voters, The Alamance News has made it a practice to publish the court records of candidates for local, and especially countywide, posts.
In the case of the primary elections on March 3, these office seekers include the GOP’s three contenders for Alamance County’s sheriff, its two candidates for clerk of superior court, and its five would-be standard bearers for Alamance County’s board of commissioners. Meanwhile, voters in the Democratic primary will consider three candidates for the board of commissioners, which has two seats up for grabs in this fall’s general election.
In order to get a full rendering of the court records for these 13 candidates, The Alamance News has availed itself of the state court system’s eCourts portal. This online repository contains decades of civil and criminal case files for both district and superior courts in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties. The portal nevertheless has some peculiarities that can make it difficult to get comprehensive records on some individuals.
The best way to access court records for specific individuals is to search eCourts for the person’s full name. The search can be expanded to include sound-alike names to capture court records with misspellings or nicknames. The search function can nevertheless return false matches for some relatively common names. These must then be weeded out based on a person’s birth year or home address, which aren’t necessarily available in civil court files.
The Alamance News has made every effort to get the complete inventory of court records for all 13 primary candidates. Whenever possible, the newspaper has included cases filed under a candidate’s nickname or maiden name, while filtering out full name matches that appear to correspond to other individuals. The newspaper has also disregarded estate records, registrations records for officers of the court, and lawsuits that incumbent office holders incurred in their capacity as elected officials.
In the end, the newspaper was unable to find any relevant files for seven of this year’s primary candidates.
Among those with no legal footprint are Billy Thomas Clayton II, a retired state trooper who is a contender for sheriff in the Republican primary, and Stephen Philip McGilv-ray, a retired member of Graham’s municipal police force who is seeking the GOP’s nod for clerk of superior court.
ECourts also failed to turn up any hits for Republican commissioner candidates William Henry Vines, Jr.; Kelly Frazier Allen, who presently serves as the chairman of Alamance County’s commissioners; and Steven Jeffery Carter, the board’s current vice chairman. Equally fallow were the searches for Democratic commissioner candidates Warren Lash Parks, Jr. and Sean Charles Ewing, who currently serves on Mebane’s city council.
The remaining six candidates others turn up with varying frequency in both the civil and criminal files of the state’s court system. By and large, these entries concern minor traffic infractions – although there’s a fair number of these roadway peccadillos on file for Republican commissioner candidates Peter Robert Boykin and Jeffrey Lee Throneburg. Meanwhile, Wibernetta Remona Allen, a Democratic contender for the county’s governing board, has a couple of two-decade-old arrests for misdemeanor offenses.
The detailed court records for these six candidates are as follows:
Terry Johnson
Alamance County’s incumbent sheriff Terry Steven Johnson has two cases on record with the state’s court system. Both pertain to speeding tickets that he received from state troopers who were operating outside of Alamance County.
Johnson was still working his previous job as an SBI agent when he received one of these speeding citations in Harnett County on July 21, 2000. The original offense, which isn’t spelled out in the court record, was reduced to improper equipment on July 28 of that same year.
Johnson was already serving as sheriff when he received another ticket in Cumberland County on July 26, 2007. This citation for going 77 in a 55-mile-an-hour-zone was dismissed altogether by Cumberland County’s D.A. on August 7, 2007.
Dana Byrd Pasour
The state’s court system has one case on record for Dana Byrd Pasour. This offense concerns a speeding ticket that the candidate received from a member of Graham’s municipal police force on July 24, 2016 for allegedly going 44 in a 35-mile-an-hour zone. Court records indicate that the infraction was dismissed on October 28 after Pasour attended a drivers’ safety class.
Kristie Miller Culler
Kristie Miller Culler, the county’s incumbent clerk of superior court, has one ticket on file under her current name. Culler received this citation on March 8, 2005 from a state trooper who said she was driving through Alamance County with an expired registration tag or card. The charge was dismissed on April 11 after Culler showed she had come into compliance with state law.
Culler also has two entries in eCourts under her maiden name Miller. She received one of these for an expired registration card or tag on January 29, 1993 from a “legacy” law enforcement agency in Pitt County. The charge was dismissed on February 2 of the same year.
Culler also appears under her maiden name in a civil case that Graham police department filed for an unspecified sum of money owed on January 24, 2002. The case was voluntarily dismissed later that month.
Ramona Allen
The state’s court system has five cases on record for Wilbernetta Ramona Allen – albeit at a different home address in Burlington than the one which appears on her candidate registration.
On October 11, 2014, a police officer in Burlington allegedly caught Allen going 44 in a 35 mile an hour zone. The D.A.’s office let Allen off with a warning when it dismissed the case on December 5 of the same year.
On March 15, 2012, a police officer in Burlington cited Allen for driving with an expired or absent inspection sticker. The charge was dismissed by the D.A.’s office on April 13.
On February 25, 2009, a state trooper in Alamance County cited Allen for driving with a revoked license. Allen pleaded guilty to the offense on April 6 of the same year and received a deferred judgment.
On May 22, 2008, Allen pleaded guilty to passing a worthless check at Food Lion grocery store in October of the previous year. Court records indicate that she was ordered to pay $56.83 in restitution.
On May 28, 2004, Burlington’s police department arrested Allen for assault and battery. Allen pleaded guilty to the offense on June 22 of the same year and received a deferred judgment from a district court judge.
Peter Boykin
Peter Robert Boykin has the most extensive court record of the 13 primary candidates who are running for local office in Alamance County. His inventory of case files includes 20 criminal case files – of which 12 stem from speeding citations while most of the rest pertain to expired registrations or inspection stickers:
On June 24, 2022, a state trooper in Guilford County pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 71 in a 55 mile an hour zone. This charge was reduced to improper equipment on August 3 of the same year.
On August 14, 2021, a state trooper in Guilford County charged Boykin for “failure to reduce speed.” He was also accused of driving with an expired registration tag or card, an expired or absent inspection sticker, and no vehicle insurance. The D.A.’s office dropped all of these charges on September 28 of the same year after Boykin reportedly complied with the rules he had violated.
On May 5, 2021, a state trooper in Rockingham County pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 60 miles an hour within a 55 mile an hour zone. He pleaded “responsible” to a lesser speeding-related infraction on August 24 of the same year.
On July 13, 2020, Boykin was cited for an expired registration card or tag by Haw River’s police department. The infraction was dropped on April 16, 2021.
On February 14, 2020, a state trooper in Rowan County accused Boykin of driving with a fictious or altered driver’s license, an expired registration card or tag, and an absent or expired inspection sticker. He also charged him with failing to notify the DMV of an address change. On February 28 of the same year after, Boykin pleaded “responsible” to driving without a license. He was also found responsible of the notification lapse while the other charges were dropped because he had reportedly come into compliance with state law.
On August 23, 2019, a police officer in Salisbury charged Boykin with “unsafe movement.” Rowan County’s D.A. dropped the charge on February 14, 2020 after the defendant “complied” with state law.
On June 28, 2019, a state trooper in Alamance County cited Boykin for an expired registration card or tag. The charge was dismissed on January 6, 2020 after he reportedly came into compliance.
On March 26, 2018, a municipal police officer in Elon cited Boykin for an expired registration card or tag. The charge was dismissed on June 29 of the same year after he reportedly came into compliance.
On November 7, 2016, a state trooper in Wake County allegedly caught Boykin going 74 in a 65-mile-an-hour zone. He pleaded “responsible” to a lesser speeding-related offense on January 5, 2017.
On January 20, 2016, a police office in Mebane charged Boykin will running a stop or flashing red light and for driving with an expired registration tag or card. He pleaded “responsible” to the stop sign violation on February 26. A judge gave him a deferred judgment while the D.A. dismissed the registration infraction.
On January 26, 2013, a state trooper in Alamance County cited Boykin for an expired registration card or tag. The charge was dismissed on March 15 of the same year after he reportedly came into compliance.
On December 14, 2011, a state trooper in Alamance County pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 60 in a 45 mile an hour zone. He pleaded “not responsible” to the offense and received a deferred judgment on February 22, 2012.
On September 30, 2011, a state trooper in Orange County charged Boykin with “failure to reduce speed.” The charge was dropped by the D.A.’s office on December 14 of the same year.
On December 21, 2010, a police officer in Haw River pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 58 in a 35 mile an hour zone. Boykin pleaded “guilty” to the offense on March 1, 2011 and received a deferred judgment.
On November 17, 2010, a police officer in Durham pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 86 in a 65 mile an hour zone. Boykin pleaded “guilty” to the offense on February 11, 2011 and received a deferred judgment.
On November 7, 2007, a Durham County sheriff’s deputy charged Boykin with allegedly going 80 in a 55 mile an hour zone. On February 7, 2008, he pleaded “responsible” to the lesser offense of “exceeding a safe speed.”
On September 26, 2007, a state trooper in Vance County pulled Boykin over for allegedly going 74 in a 65 mile an hour zone. He pleaded “responsible” to a lesser speeding-related offense on January 17, 2008.
On March 21, 2006, a municipal police officer in Raleigh gave Boykin a ticket for going 54 in a 45 mile an hour zone. He pleaded responsible to a lesser speeding-related offense on May 2 of the same year and received a deferred judgment.
On February 14, 2006, a state trooper in Caswell County charged Boykin with going 64 miles an hour in a 55-mile an hour zone. He pleaded “responsible” to a lesser speeding-related infraction on March 22 of the same year.
On March 22, 2004, Boykin was ticketed by a Durham County sheriff’s deputy for driving without a license. The charge was dismissed on August 2 of the same year.
Boykin also appears to have found himself on both sides of the courtroom in a number of civil cases:
On March 18, 2020, Brad Winkler filed an eviction action and a claim of money owed against a Peter Boykin with no specified address. The eviction action was granted “in whole or in part” when case was heard before a magistrate in Guilford County on June 25 of the same year.
On December 16, 2019, Piedmont Property Solutions filed an eviction action and a claim for money owed against a Peter Boykin at an unspecified address. On January 7, 2020, a Guilford County district court granted the plaintiff’s eviction action “in whole or in part,” along with a civil judgment for $1,075.
On October 14, 2019, Gate City Property Management filed an eviction action and a claim for money owed against a Peter Boykin at an unspecified address. The case was dismissed by a Guilford County district court on October 23 of the same year.
On December 17, 2015, Capital One Bank filed a collection action against a Peter Boykin of 2901 Quaker Creek Drive in Mebane. An Alamance County district court granted the bank a judgment for $4,558.99 on June 9, 2016.
On March 19, 2014 Boykin took Ryan Michael Evans to court in Alamance County for money owed. The case appears to have wound itself out before it was discontinued on June 18 of the same year.
On September 30, 2013, Boykin and co-plaintiff Tavaris Smith sued Quality Property Management for money owed in Alamance County. Court records indicate the complaint was “denied” on October 23 of the same year.
On June 15, 2009, Ellis L. Selph tried to evict Boykin from his residence in Durham only to have the action dismissed by the court on July 7 of the same year.
Jeff Throneburg
A homebuilder from Mebane, Jeffrey Lee Throneburg has accumulated a number of entries in eCourts, including the following criminal case files, which generally stem from minor traffic offenses:
On June 10, 2015 a police officer in Graham cited Throneburg for allegedly failing to fasten his seatbelt. Throneburg pleaded “responsible” to this offense on July 30 of the same year.
On September 5, 2014 a “legacy” law enforcement agency in Guilford County charged Throneburg with driving, or allowing someone else to drive, an unregistered vehicle without insurance. The future candidate was also accused of illegally lending or borrowing a license plate for the same vehicle. All of the charges associated with this case were dismissed on October 20, 2014.
On October 30, 2012, a state trooper cited Throneburg for a seatbelt violation in Alamance County. Throneburg pleaded “responsible” to the offense on January 31, 2013.
On June 6, 2009, a state trooper in Gaston County gave Throneburg a ticket for allegedly going 82 in a 60 mile an hour zone. This ticket was reduced to improper equipment on July 23 of the same year.
On April 30, 2007, a state trooper reportedly caught Throneburg driving through Alamance County without a properly displayed license plate. A judge dismissed the case on June 4 of the same year after confirming that the defendant had brought his vehicle into compliance.
On June 26, 2006, an Alamance County sheriff’s deputy pulled Throneburg over for allegedly going 55 in a 35-mile-an-hour zone. Court records indicate that Throneburg pleaded guilty on July 24 of the same year and received a deferred judgment.
On July 1, 2002, a state trooper reportedly caught Throneburg driving without his license in Alamance County. The charge was dismissed on August 12 after an assistant D.A. ascertained that Throneburg did, in fact, have a “valid NCDL.”
On January 14, 1998, a police officer in Siler City allegedly caught Throneburg going 54 miles an hour in a 35-mile-an-hour zone. Court records indicate that the defendant pleaded guilty to the offense and received a deferred judgment on February 17 of the same year.
On June 19, 1990, an officer with a “legacy” law enforcement agency in Wake County ticketed Jeffrey Lee Throneburg of Route 5 Box 387 in Mebane for the alleged possession of a malt beverage. Court records indicate that Throneburg pleaded guilty to the offense on July 10, 1990.
Throneburg is also named as a party in the following civil court cases:
On November 8, 2017, William Martin Warren sued Jeffrey Lee Throneburg of Platinum Builders in Mebane in order to collect on an outstanding debt. On August 22, 2018, the plaintiff obtained a judgment for $7,800 in Alamance County district court.
On June 3, 2009, Alan E. Ferguson filed a foreclosure action against Jeffrey L. Throneburg in Caswell County. Court records indicate that Ferguson’s claim was granted “in whole or in part” before the case was disposed on September 4, 2009.
On August 18, 2006, Caswell County named Jeffrey Lee Throneburg of 6205 Yarborough Road in Mebane as one of several defendants in a tax-related foreclosure action that it voluntarily dismissed in the following month.
On May 29, 2003, Peter T. Blaetz filed a foreclosure action in Alamance County that named Throneburg and Rhonda L. Villasenor as the defendants. Blaetz voluntarily dismissed the case a month later.
The court system also has files on record pertaining to Throneburg’s divorce from Dana L. Throneburg in 1994.
Meanwhile, the state’s court system also has cases on file for defendants whose names are remarkably close to the would-be county commissioner. In each of these instances, the birth year or home address seems to confirm that they refer to the same individual:
The N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission lodged one of these cases on May 24, 2008 against a Jeffrey Lee “Thorneburg” for allegedly allowing a child under 13 into a watercraft. Court records indicate that the defendant, whose address is given as 2733 South NC 87 in Graham, pleaded guilty to the offense in Caswell County district court on July 7, 2008.
On February 25, 2004, BB&T sued Jeffrey L. “Thorneburg” over a financial debt in Orange County district court. Court records indicate that the bank obtained a judgment for $7,290.64 on April 22, 2004.
On December 23, 2003, Trustee Services of Carolina initiated a foreclosure action against “Jeffery” L. Throneburg in Orange County that it voluntary dropped in the following year.
On June 9, 1985, a Durham County sheriff’s deputy cited a Jeffrey Lee “Thorneburg” of Route 5 Box 387 in Mebane for going 65 in a 55-mile-an-hour zone. The defendant went on to pay a $45 fine for the infraction after he was judged “guilty” on July 17, 1985.
