Surry County Elections Chair Resigns Following Felony Arrest

Warrants are shedding more light on the arrest of a now-former elections official out of Surry County this week. The Wilmington Police Department announced that on Tuesday they arrested James Edwin Yokeley and charged him with felony child abuse, possession of a controlled substance, and contaminating food with a controlled substance.

The charges stem from an August 8 incident where Yokeley reportedly flagged down an officer at a Wilmington Sheetz and claimed he had found something in his grandchildren’s ice cream. Two pills were discovered, and medical professionals determined the children had not ingested anything.

According to police, video footage showed Yokeley placing the pills in the food. Warrants state that he “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did intentionally inflict serious physical injury, placing blue pressed pill containing MDMA, cocaine into blizzard drink being consumed by victim” while acting as their guardian for the weekend.

Yokeley was selected in June by Dave Boliek to lead the Surry County Board of Elections. Boliek demanded Yokeley’s resignation Thursday morning, calling the allegations “very disturbing” and stating that the office is built on accountability. Just after noon Thursday, the state auditor’s office announced Yokeley had resigned as of 11:44 a.m.

Boliek issued a statement saying, “As I had called for, the Chair of the Surry County Board of Elections has resigned. With his resignation, the Surry County Board and State Board can now, without distraction, move forward with the process of appointing a replacement.”

On Wednesday, the Surry County Board of Elections released a statement acknowledging the charges and stating that the State Board of Elections would continue to provide support to ensure the county’s voters are served.