Two people in Burke County are facing serious felony charges after deputies arrested them in a child abuse investigation, according to the sheriff's office. Both were taken to the Burke County Magistrate's Office on Thursday and ordered held without bond. They appeared in Burke County District Court the next day, and their next court date is set for March 20.
In a post on Facebook, the Burke County Sheriff's Office said deputies received a report of alleged child abuse on Dec. 21, 2025. Following the investigation, officers arrested Patience Briana Michelle Dula and Andrew Isaiah Bryant on Thursday. The post states that both were charged with “felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious physical injury” and that magistrates at the Burke County Magistrate's Office set “no bond” for each. According to the sheriff's post, the two appeared in Burke County District Court yesterday and were given a March 20 court date.
Regional reporting and public booking lists list both defendants as booked on Thursday, matching the timeline given by the sheriff's office. A roundup by Helm News also includes Dula among the people arrested that day.
Agencies Involved
The sheriff's Facebook post notes that the Burke County Department of Social Services assisted in the response to the abuse report. The county agency handles child-protective investigations, while the Burke County Children's Advocacy Center provides trauma-focused services for young victims, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the Burke County Children's Advocacy Center.
Court Process and What Comes Next
Because the defendants are facing felony child abuse charges, the case will move through District Court and could proceed to Superior Court, where judges handle probable cause hearings and trial scheduling. Magistrates usually conduct the initial appearance and decide whether to set or deny bond. Judges can later revisit those conditions and adjust them if needed, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch. The March 20 court date is expected to focus on scheduling and other early procedural issues in the case.
