Melisia Prout, president and CEO of Salvation’s Way, a non-profit organization that offers legal counsel to low income individuals, looks on as Davidson County Director of Elections Ruth Honeycutt notarizes affidavits submitted by local voters. Photo/Eliot Duke
Armed with signed affidavits opposing Hege’s candidacy for sheriff on the basis he is a convicted felon and therefore would be in violation of North Carolina General Statute 14-415.1, Melisia Prout and several of her family members filed a motion that the former sheriff does not meet the constitutional requirements to seek election for office under NCGS 163-127.2 (b).
“This is a challenge to the Board of Elections as to whether Gerald Hege can remain on the ballot,” Prout said. “We need to get him off the ballot. We just literally found out [Tuesday] morning that this law exists that gives us the opportunity. That’s why it’s such a time issue right now. We’ve not had much opportunity to get the word out to too many people that they have this option. Even the district attorney didn’t know this was an option. During our research of what we could do, we came across this law that gives us the right to challenge him at the board of elections.”
Prout, president and CEO of Salvation’s Way, a non-profit organization that offers legal counsel to low income individuals, feels that since Hege is a convicted felon - he pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice - and is not able to carry a firearm, his name should be taken off the Republican ballot all together. Prout said that just because Hege himself would not being carrying a gun, he would be still be in violation of the statute that states it is “unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to purchase, own, possess, or have in his custody, care or control any firearm or any weapon of mass destruction and death.” Should Hege return to office, he would be a steward of many guns within the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re calling on voters to come and join us against Hege,” said affidavit holder Jane Burdette. “We’re here to keep him of out of office. Our taxpayer dollars don’t need to support a felon. Every person under his rule will be responsible for what he does. We‘re not stupid and we weren‘t born yesterday. That‘s why we have voter registration, to keep these crappy people out of office.”
Ruth Huneycutt, Davidson County director of elections, processed the forms and said the Board of Elections will meet next Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. to determine a course of action. Huneycutt said this was the first time she has seen a challenge of this nature.
Prout, a Forsyth County resident who couldn’t sign the affidavit, said Hege has a long history of corruption involving prisoner abuse and attacks on the elderly. The window for such a motion ended 10 days after filling completed, but Prout said she was able to go ahead with the affidavit under a default deadline.
“[Hege] is absolutely not qualified for this position,” Prout said “ His conviction makes him not qualified. He wants to go on the fact he can not possess a hand gun, however, the statute doesn’t stop with just possessing. It says he can not be in the care, control or custody. As sheriff he will absolutely be in the care, control and custody or not only the weapons but of officers carrying weapons. He can run for any other office, but he can not for sheriff.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but you don’t know until you plant the seed. What’s [Hege] going to say, ‘stop or my deputy will shoot.’ His inability to read the statute is probably what got him into trouble to begin with. Every deputy under him would be another violation against him.”
Salvation’s Way is entering its 10th year of existence and Prout said her organization has crossed path with Hege numerous times. Under the statute, Prout said only one challenge is needed legally to move forward with the process. Four people submitted the notarized affidavit.
Hege is slated to face off against incumbent sheriff David Grice and Terry Price in the May Republican primary with the winner challenging Democrat Tommy Evans in November.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
I especially hate the fear he caused in the county to innocent people. He's a macho man when he has his backup.
Notice he never attended a forum, because he couldn't control his spin on the truth. All the other candidates spoke, But Hege was in churches telling how poor he was and how badly treated.
He just wants back in to get revenge and that nice pension for life that we will be saddled with along with his lawsuits. How will a convicted felon's allegations hold up in court cases? Did you read the affidavits? They were not hearsay but sworn testimony.
Hege has already been out and about leaving messages for those who he thinks wronged him in very public places. Is this the person you want in office who only made "a few paper work mistakes"? Why did he have to pay back money if he didn't take it? Why did he plea guilty if he wasn't? Because he couldn't risk a trial and land up in his pink jail. He's a bad cop and a joke to outsiders.We don't need him or his dream.
First of all I am proud to say I have a clean record.Never been involved in criminal activity unlike others family member's.Never touched a drug,never prostituted,etc.She has never helped me cause I havent been been involved in illegal activity!The only one she has helped that has been involved in criminal activity is members of her own family.I can put whatever name I want on here doesnt make me a coward.You just want to get attention off the truth by calling me a coward. Like I said before there was no evidence and he showed up when the cops asked him too and took the lie detector test.So whatever who got proved to be a liar?Whose statements where false?:)) I dont look bad and the people who where involved in this nonsense does not look bad..The one who caused a big fuss over something that was made up looks bad!!I am proud my mother raised me with good character and not too be involved in illegal activities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are making up stuff.First off you need to get your facts right!The detectives said they found no evidence in the house of foul play such as blood,etc.It's not someone elses fault she wants to run off away from her b/f and run the streets. She a grown woman who cut her phone off so people could not disturb whatever or who ever she was doing.The woman who said that he drove off in her car is a crackhead who her sisters daddy used to date.Whose house has been raided for the illegal stuff they do.He never tried to hide her stuff it was right where she left it "when she went to see her son". I passed by there friday of the weekend "he had her car" it was not there,sat morning at 6am to get my kids some breakfast @ McDonalds' she had her car.The woman claimed she seen him drive off 2am in her car when she had her car the whole time.This family knows what this girl is into and knew she was just being a *** and running the streets.If I have no evidence and I know my family history I am not crazy enough in my head to try and destroy innocent people's lives b/c of nonsense.If I was these people I would get a copy of my lie detector test,proof from police reports of no evidence of foul play to give reason for this drama and sue her for my missed work,embarrasment,and whatever else.This was just all fake and she had no evidence to cause this drama!Her sister called and comfirmed what the b/f said she was in VA and just had her phone turned off.Her sister is so close to believe something happend well tell me does Mrs.Prout know her sisters son's address or phone number and have the cops in VA check on her or call her sisters son's residence and ask if her sister was there.This woman seems to like the spotlight and attention!And for your information I had nothing to do with a case that never existed to begin with just in ones head...I live in the same area I am a neighbor too.And others around here said it was nonsense and she was just trying to stir up trouble what she in "other's" words is best for doing.Atleast apologize to the ones she brought this drama upon for no reason.If she could apologize I might have a little more heart to say o.k. she just made a mistake...but I guess she has to much pride or something.
Melisia Prout has been working for Salvation’s Way for 10 years. She has received little or no pay for the service of Salvation’s Way. This includes, among other things, assisting parents in getting their children back. Helping a mother find her kidnapped child; which Melisia herself took time away from her family to go to Nebraska to find her. All the help she has given to families/individuals can not all be listed in this comment. Salvation’s Way’s services are not limited to Davidson County. Their services have extended throughout several states.
Melisia Prout was responding to information she had been given regarding her sister, which led the family to believe something bad may have happen to her sister. Melisia Prout spent the entire day along with her father and Lexington Police Department trying to locate her sister. Once it was discovered they were all given wrong misleading information and that her sister was in fact ok; Melisia Prout herself went in person to the Police department and thanked the department for their time and amazing job they did in trying to locate her sister!!!
I know personally the good that she has done and has tried to do and I’m sure the coward who wrote this letter about her is probably someone that Melisia Prout herself helped to get prosecuted for their criminal activity. (Yes, when it was necessary she did help prosecute a family member that committed crimes of domestic violence.)
Not Scared to put my name!!