Four arrested in connection with Sylva Halloween party
Four arrests were made yesterday (March 3) in connection with a Halloween party last fall that allegedly involved underage drinking and resulted in the alleged statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl.
Austin Trent Davis, 19, and Cody Jacob Scott Jenkins, 24, were each indicted for felony statutory sex offenses. No bond has yet been set.
A recently unsealed search warrant revealed that investigators from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigations had searched Jenkins’ home in the days following the party when students at Smoky Mountain High School told a teacher about the party, the search warrant said. The warrant reported finding evidence including ingredients for Jell-o shots, a used condom and bedding.
James Wesley Henry and Michelle Watson Dillard were both indicted on one count each of obstruction of justice, with an unsecured bond set at $10,000 each by Superior Court Judge Marvin Pope.
Henry had been a deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office but was fired in February following several months of paid leave. He was reportedly seen attending the party.
The court date for Davis and Jenkins is set for April 15.
