Hickory Man Sentenced To At Least Seven-Years Prison Time

42-year-old Michael Terrell Hames of Hickory will serve an active prison term of seven-to-nine years following his conviction on assault and weapons charges. Hames’ sentence was enhanced by his status as an habitual felon. The Honorable Peter Knight, Superior Court Judge from Henderson County, imposed the sentence during Catawba County Superior Court last Tuesday (July 16) after the defendant entered a guilty plea. He’ll serve his sentence in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

Hames pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, three counts of possession of firearm by a felon, and two counts of larceny of a firearm. His habitual felon status is the result of prior felony convictions for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver cocaine in Catawba County (December 2019), possession of cocaine in Cabarrus County (April 2004), and the sale of cocaine in Cabarrus County (February 1999).

The assault took place in February of this year when Hames and the victim were engaged in a verbal dispute that led Hames to fire shots at the victim with a 9-millimeter handgun. In March and again in April of this year, Hames stole handguns from the same victim. He had previously been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon in December of 2019 in Catawba County.

Elijah Adkins, Austin Grossand, and Joseph Hart investigated the cases for the Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Howard Wellons prosecuted the case with aid from Legal Assistant Meredith Scott.
Story: Ralph Mangum-WHKY