Deputies say a 21-year-old man newly listed on Burke County's most wanted roster was found hiding under a truck in Morganton on Wednesday and quickly taken into custody. Gabriel Mayline Boone was arrested without incident after officers spotted him underneath an unoccupied vehicle, then taken to the Burke County magistrate's office, according to county postings. Officials say he is facing several drug-related charges and is being held on a secured bond ahead of a court date set for late July 2026.
In a Facebook update from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, deputies say they found Boone hiding underneath an unoccupied truck at 2362 Mount Home Church Road and took him into custody without resistance. The post identifies him as Gabriel Mayline Boone, born April 22, 2005, and lists charges that include felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and a failure-to-appear charge. According to the sheriff's report, a Burke County magistrate set his bond at $25,000 secured and scheduled his next court appearance for July 27, 2026.
What The Charges Mean
Under North Carolina law, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance is covered by North Carolina General Assembly section 90-95, and penalties depend on both the substance and the amount involved. When methamphetamine is in the mix, prosecutors can pursue higher felony classes and potential multi-year prison terms if they can show intent to distribute or trafficking-level quantities. The severity of any sentence is driven by weight thresholds and other details spelled out in the statute.
Local Enforcement And Recent Cases
The sheriff's office has been leaning on Facebook posts and press releases to broadcast fugitive alerts and drug busts in recent months, a pattern that has shown up repeatedly in local coverage. A late April traffic stop in the Morganton area that resulted in trafficking-level meth charges drew similar notice, as highlighted in the Kathy Road traffic stop report. Those updates and county news releases show deputies frequently asking the public for tips to help track suspects and wrap up ongoing cases.
What Happens Next
County postings state that Boone was taken to the Burke County Magistrate's Office and is being held on the secured bond that was set in his case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office at (828) 438-5500 or visit the county's Burke County most wanted page for additional tip and contact options. The charges listed are allegations, and Boone remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
