Surry County Elections Chair’s Case Remains Pending; Next Court Date Set

RALEIGH, N.C. - No new charges have been filed as of Sunday, August 31, 2025, in the investigation of former Surry County Board of Elections Chair James Edwin Yokeley Jr., 66. Wilmington Police continue to withhold surveillance footage of the August 3 incident in which Yokeley allegedly placed pills into ice cream purchased for his 16-year-old step-granddaughter and her 15-year-old friend.

Laboratory testing of the blue pressed pills-initially identified in the field as a mixture of MDMA and cocaine-remains underway at the state crime lab. Wilmington Police Lieutenant Greg Willett said the state lab’s “isolated identification” of the substances should be completed within approximately one month.

Yokeley, who resigned August 28 from his role as chair amid charges of contaminating food with a controlled substance, felony child abuse, and possession of Schedule I narcotics, turned himself in at WPD headquarters on August 26 and posted a $100,000 secured bond. Both minors were evaluated by medical personnel and confirmed not to have ingested any narcotics.

Yokeley’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 11 at 9 a.m. in New Hanover County District Court. The Surry County Board of Elections and the North Carolina State Board of Elections have indicated they will move forward with appointing a replacement chair once all procedural requirements are met.