Catawba County Man Sentenced To Serve Six-To- Eight Years

53-year-old Paul Edward Ikard, Jr. of Catawba County was sentenced to serve six-to-eight years in prison following his conviction for fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle. The defendant’s sentence length was enhanced by his status as a habitual felon. The Honorable Penn Broyhill, Superior Court Judge from Forsyth County, imposed the sentence after Ikard entered a guilty plea on Tuesday (October 22) in Catawba County Superior Court. Ikard will serve his period of incarceration in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

The habitual felon designation is the result of prior convictions for fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle in April 2003 (Catawba County), second-degree rape in July 2007 (Burke County) and failure to report a new address as a sex offender in May 2015 (Catawba County).

On March 29, 2023, Catawba County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Ikard for a fictitious registration, but the driver did not comply, resulting in a chase with speeds more than 15 m.p.h. higher than the posted limits.

Ikard failed to stop at a stop sign, failed to maintain lane control, and crashed into a power pole. He fled on foot, but was apprehended a short time later.

Story: Ralph Mangum-WHKY