Newton Man Pleads Guilty To Leading Police On Chase That Resulted In Two Deaths

No prison time for a Newton man who pleaded guilty in a case involving the deaths of two people during a chase with police in Hickory in 2023. According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections Offender Public Information website, 26-year-old Chanceler Timothy Johnson was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this month. He received a sentence of probation. The case involved the deaths of 38-year-old Cynthia Nicole Lail and her son 12-year-old Michael Lail.

The crash occurred on September 8, 2023. At approximately 11 p.m. on that date, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the accident scene on U.S. Highway 70 at 13th Street S.W. in Hickory. The accident occurred as Hickory Police on Highway 70 attempted to stop a motorcycle for careless & reckless driving and failure to display a license plate. During the pursuit, a 2020 H.P.D. Ford Explorer traveling west on Highway 70 entered the intersection and struck a 2011 Honda Odyssey, which was traveling south through the intersection.

The Officer driving the H.P.D. vehicle was transported by E.M.S. to Catawba Valley Medical Center with minor injuries. A passenger in the Police vehicle was also transported to the same hospital with minor injuries. The passenger was a Hickory Police Department applicant. The Officer, who was terminated approximately a month after the incident, was not charged.

Johnson entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in Catawba County Superior Court and received 60 months probation.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY