An Iredell County courtroom handed down a guilty verdict Wednesday for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer accused of violating a domestic-violence protective order, but the case is far from over. The officer, 49-year-old Matthew Michael, will not be sentenced yet, after a judge put any punishment on hold while he appeals. Michael, who faces additional criminal counts tied to earlier allegations, remains on administrative leave as more court dates loom later this month.
According to WCNC, an Iredell County district judge found Michael guilty after a hearing focused on whether he violated a domestic violence protective order. Court records reviewed by the outlet indicate the violation stems from alleged contact on Jan. 2, when an arrest warrant says Michael spoke with a victim from a separate case, which would breach the order. WCNC reports Michael has appealed the ruling to Iredell County Superior Court, and sentencing is stayed while that appeal plays out.
Background to the charges
Michael was first publicly linked to criminal allegations in February 2025, when local outlets reported he had been arrested on two counts of misdemeanor child abuse. WBTV noted the charges stemmed from an off-duty incident and quoted CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings saying the department would cooperate with investigators. At the time, CMPD placed Michael on unpaid administrative leave while an internal probe moved forward, as documented by WSOC.
What the law says
Under North Carolina law, knowingly violating a valid protective order is typically a Class A1 misdemeanor, although repeat violations or other aggravating conduct can bump the offense to a felony. State statute spells out those penalties and requires officers to arrest without a warrant when there is probable cause. The details are laid out in G.S. 50B-4.1. Because Michael has appealed, the district court stayed sentencing, and local dockets list hearings for April 24 and April 27, 2026, as the next steps in the case, according to WCNC.
What to watch next
All eyes now shift to Michael’s appeal in Iredell County Superior Court and to whether prosecutors decide to push forward on the separate child-abuse and cyberstalking counts. CMPD has said it will cooperate with outside investigators and previously placed Michael on administrative leave. Chief Johnny Jennings’s remarks were reported by WBTV when the earlier charges were filed. Coverage will be updated if new court filings, a statement from prosecutors, or a CMPD announcement clarifies Michael’s employment status or if the Superior Court changes the district judge’s finding.
