Man Charged With Murder Of Rob Arguelles Will Not Face Death Penalty

The Hickory man charged with killing his business partner from Alexander County in June will not face the death penalty.

85-year-old Willard Gary Black has been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old Robert Roger Arguelles of the Bethlehem Community. Investigators say Arguelles was shot multiple times inside the Old Hickory Tannery in Newton on the afternoon of June 17. The day of the shooting, a judge had ordered Black to comply with an agreement in a lawsuit to turn the business over to Arguelles. The lawsuit was filed by Arguelles in 2024 to get back around $300,000 he loaned Black to fund business operations.

Reports indicate the Black admitted to officers that he shot Arguelles. The suspected firearm was found at the scene.

A Rule 24 Hearing was held this week in Catawba County Superior Court and Judge Karen Eady-Williams ruled that the matter will proceed as non-capital first-degree murder. If convicted, the strictest sentence for Black is life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

According to Newton Police, Arguelles a well-known Alexander County School Board member, had just met with company employees before the shooting. Authorities have previously said Arguelles was unarmed. Investigators found no evidence of any altercation before the gunfire. The incident has been described as an ambush.

Black remains in the Catawba County Detention Center with bond listed at $2.5 million.

Rob Eastwood contributed to this story