By Jason Saine

LINCOLNTON – Judge Richard Boner today reviewed a petition filed by County Attorney Jeff Taylor on behalf of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners asking that Sheriff Tim Daugherty be suspended and removed from office.

Boner concluded that removal at this time was not warranted and that the Sheriff’s actions did not place the citizens of Lincoln County in any adverse condition.

The controversy surrounding Sheriff Daugherty, a Democrat, has been mired in politics over the past several months when the all Republican Board of County Commissioners opted to file the petition for his suspension after the District Attorney’s Office filed charges against him.

(Photo: Judge Boner listens to testimony at the hearing on Friday. Photo by Seth Mabry, LTN, Press Pool.)

Daugherty will have his day in court sometime in January.