A Lenoir man, identified as Marquel James Jackson, 30, has been handed down a 12 to 15-year prison sentence following his guilty plea to charges involving a violent encounter outside a Hickory hotel, the QC News reports. The incident unfolded on February 3rd, where Jackson engaged with a woman in the parking lot, leading to an attempted robbery and the discharge of a firearm when his offer to sell drugs was refused.
After the victim managed to remove Jackson from her vehicle and attempted to escape, Jackson fired two shots into the passenger side of the moving car, according to WHKY, the victim was not harmed during the incident however Jackson fled the scene before authorities could apprehend him, which they later did on February 10. In a detailed recounting to investigators, the victim said Jackson not only tried to sell her narcotics but also attempted to rob her when she declined the offer.
Jackson's guilty plea encompassed attempted first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling or vehicle, a statement obtained by WSOCTV confirmed. His sentence was delivered in Catawba County Superior Court on November 4, sealing his fate to spend the foreseeable future under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
For their roles in the case, Hickory Police Department's Richard Helderman led the inquiry with the efforts of Assistant District Attorney Melanie Earles prosecuting and Legal Assistant Jordan Arney providing aid.
