Exclusive: Man gets probation before sheriff announces arrest

William Molisee pleaded guilty to firearm and methamphetamine charges Sept. 25; both prison sentences were suspended and two other charges dismissed.

A Morganton man who was arrested after deputies responded to a report of unsafe gunfire received suspended prison sentences and supervised probation before the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office announced his arrest more than a month after the incident, court records obtained by WCAB News show.

William Andrew Molisee, 32, pleaded guilty Sept. 25 to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of methamphetamine in McDowell District Court. Prosecutors dismissed two misdemeanor counts of simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance under a plea agreement.

Judge A. Michelle McEntire imposed a sentence of 10 to 21 months for the firearm conviction and six to 17 months for the methamphetamine conviction. She suspended both sentences and ordered 24 months of supervised probation under each judgment.

“Subject to the conditions set out below, the execution of this sentence is suspended, and the defendant is placed on supervised probation for 24 Months,” court records show.

The judgments identify Sean Odom as the attorney for the state and Michael Ray Smith Jr. as Molisee’s retained defense attorney.

The sheriff’s Oct. 7 announcement described the Sept. 3 arrest and initial denial of bond but did not include the guilty pleas, suspended sentences, probation, or dismissal of the misdemeanor charges.

The District Attorney, Ted Bell, has not issued a statement about the case.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a residence in the Nebo area after a caller reported someone shooting a firearm in an unsafe direction.

Deputies spoke with two men, including Molisee. A search of the vehicle he was driving turned up a loaded semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies also reported finding suspected methamphetamine, an unmarked bottle containing prescription pills and drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Caleb Baliles charged Molisee with the four offenses.

The magistrate’s order identifies the firearm as a 12-gauge Model AR12 and cites a prior felony child neglect conviction as the basis for the firearm charge.

Molisee was taken to the McDowell County Detention Center. The sheriff’s office said he was initially denied bond because he was already on pretrial release.

Court records show a $50,000 secured bond was set Sept. 4. The available public records do not show when Molisee physically left custody.

The probation judgments require him to commit no new crimes, possess no firearms or ammunition, report to his probation officer and submit to drug screening as directed. They also require compliance with conditions in a separate criminal case.

The case, number 26CR399118-580, is listed as disposed Sept. 25.

He also had other recent cases, per the NC Judicial Branch eCourts records portal.