LENOIR, NC (May 2, 2018)…A Caldwell County District Court Judge granted the State’s motion on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, to revoke bond for a man arrested on two counts of possessing a gun on educational property.
Judge Wes Barkley revoked the $25,000 bond given to Blaine Francis Pennington III, 50, of Lenoir, following his arrest on Tuesday, May 1 by deputies with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. Judge Barkley granted the motion made by Assistant District Attorneys Andrea Plyler and Nancy Lee pending a mental health evaluation for Pennington.
In addition, the Judge also granted the State’s motion to seize and secure Pennington’s weapon until results of the evaluation are available and reviewed, and he appointed Attorney T.J. Rohr to represent the defendant.
Pennington was on the campuses of Happy Valley Elementary School and Collettsville Elementary School on Tuesday with a weapon. In both instances he was confronted and left before later being stopped in his vehicle by deputies. He gave no legitimate reason to deputies for being on school property with a weapon.
Pennington is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Investigation of the case continues by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.