North Carolina Sheriff Hatched Plot To Kill Deputy To Cover Up Racist Remarks
A sheriff betrayed his own deputy.
Facebook A North Carolina sheriff was indicted for arranging his own deputy’s murder who had a recording of his “racially insensitive” comments. Sherriff Bindell Wilkins was indicted on two felony charges of obstruction of justice on Monday after allegedly plotting to kill his former deputy Joshua Freeman. The plot was constructed by Watkins in 2014 after his fellow deputy Joshua Freeman made him aware that he possessed a tape exposing Wilkins’s offensive racial slurs, which was not released.
Wilkins' breached ethical conduct as sherriff by persuading the unidentified man, scouted to kill Freeman, into believing that there was no way he would be traced to the crime since the sherriff knew what evidence it took to identify a murderer. The plot was not carried out; however, Wilkins faces serious felony charges by failing to execute his job as sheriff and planning a homicide against his own deputy.
To find out more details about the case, read on below — who is Brindell Wilkins?
1. The Granville County sheriff allegedly told a man how to commit murder without getting caught.
According to Buzzfeed, the sheriff went “as far as to discuss the time and place that would be best to kill him.” Wilkins told the unidentified man over the phone, "You ain't got the weapon, you ain't got nothing to go on" and "The only way we find out these murder things is people talk. You can't tell nobody nothin', not a thing."
2. What Wilkins said in the unreleased recording is unknown.
According to court records, Wilkins used “racially offensive language,” but it is unclear on what was said. Apparently, it was enough to make Wilkins fear the tape being released and wanting Freeman dead.
3. The encounter between Wilkins and the unidentified man took place back in 2014.
However, since a recording exists of an unlawful motive, it is considered a felony and an obstruction of justice. The indictment states, "The defendant failed to properly execute his duties because of his personal animosity towards Joshua Freeman, who defendant was told had expressed an intention to publicly disclose to authorities a purported audio recording of the defendant using racially offensive language."
4. Authorities have been aware of the phone call in question since 2014, too.
However, according to the Washington Post, the indictment came “after a 10-month investigation by the FBI and N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, although authorities were aware of the phone call since 2014, according to a news release from Lorrin Freeman.”
5. It is unclear if Wilkins is still serving in office, but he CAN still serve.
At this time, various reports share contradicting information regarding the status of Wilkins as a sheriff. According to the New York Post, “Technically, he can continue to serve if he chooses to until convicted," Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, who is working on the case, said.
6. Wilkins was released on $20,000 bond.
“Wilkins appeared before a Granville County magistrate Monday and was released on a $20,000 bond.” according to the Washington Post.
Elizabeth Ward is a writing student finishing her bachelor’s at the University of Louisville. She covers topics in news, entertainment, relationships and everything in between.