Julia Coin

1 week ago | charlotteobserver.com | Julia Coin

After spending a decade as a prosecutor, former U.S. Attorney Dena King is switching sides. As the the first person of color and fourth woman to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the Western District of North Carolina, King previously represented government agencies in civil and criminal cases. Now, at Charlotte law firm Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, she'll advise and represent clients who face government and internal investigations, according to a news release from the law firm.

1 week ago | charlotteobserver.com | Julia Coin

The owner of Hillbilly's BBQ in Lowell agreed to pay a $1.5 million settlement after the federal government sued him for misusing pandemic relief money. Street View image of the Hillbilly's Barbeque and Steaks on Branch Street in February 2023. © 2025 Google The owner of the popular Hillbilly's BBQ in Gaston County promised to use federal money to help keep his business afloat during the pandemic. Instead, he bought a FedEx store.

2 weeks ago | charlotteobserver.com | Julia Coin

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools violated public records laws when officials refused to give reporters school district data on rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus. Now the public tax-funded school district must pay more than $66,000 of television news station WBTV's legal fees, a judge ruled March 28. WBTV in June 2021 submitted public records requests for "all data" of the school district tracking reports of sexual assaults, rapes and sexual harassment since 2011.

2 weeks ago | charlotteobserver.com | Julia Coin

Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather's prosecutors have twice offered a plea deal to a man involved in the mysterious disappearance of Andy Tench. D'Shaun Robinson last year said he dumped an unconscious Tench in a dumpster before stealing his car and wallet to go on a shopping spree. Police say they think Tench was killed, but prosecutors say they don't have enough evidence to charge Robinson with murder. They don't have Tench's body.

2 weeks ago | charlotteobserver.com | Julia Coin

Julius Bishop has for three years stuck to the same story: He shouldn't be in jail. His ex-girlfriend set him up. She shouldn't be a magistrate. She abused her power. A Mecklenburg jury convicted him Friday in the 2021 domestic abuse case centered around his assault on Ashley Blackwell. During Bishop's 1,328 days in jail, he sent eight letters to courthouse officials saying Blackwell and police entrapped him by filing false charges and judges violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial.