Yadkin Valley News

From March 16, 2023 post. 

Final Judgment Ordered in Yadkin County Nuisance Case

PRESS RELEASE

SHERIFF NICK SMITHERMAN

03/15/2023

Local community members will soon see relief after over a decade of living in fear which was compounded by deaths and drugs.  Recently Wilkes County Superior Court Judge Michael Duncan signed a consent judgment for a Chapter 19 Nuisance Abatement action against Indigo Hospitality One LLC., Tejalbahen Patel, and Girishbhai Patel the property owners of America’s Best Value Inn, 5702 Hwy 21, Jonesville, North Carolina.

This judgment concludes a civil nuisance abatement case and is a result of a collaborative effort between the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office and Yadkin County Commissioners.  The action was filed by the County of Yadkin on behalf of the State of North Carolina. Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes defines “nuisance” activities and provides for a civil remedy to abate such criminal acts and their detrimental impacts on the community.

Kevin Austin, Chairman of the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners, stated: “I would like to thank the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Nuisance Abatement Team for their extremely thorough investigation that allowed us to get this judgment. Our Commissioners feel confident the activities prohibited by this judgment will now stop. I hope this judgment puts other businesses on notice that we are not going to tolerate this activity anymore in Yadkin County.”

According to Yadkin County Sheriff Nick Smitherman: “We at the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office initiated this action, in cooperation with A.L.E., in response to the tremendous drain on manpower and resources from this single establishment.  This lawsuit and subsequent judgment should provide much-needed relief for the citizens of Yadkin County.  I also want to put other hotel owners and landlords on notice and ask that they carefully screen who they allow on their properties.  The Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office will use any and all resources at our disposal to curb criminal activity regardless of where it occurs in this county or who it involves.  I would like to thank the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division for partnering with us to address this very important issue.”

This judgment permanently prohibits the property owners from operating or maintaining a public nuisance at this location, or anywhere within the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina.  Under the terms of the consent judgment, the property may never be used for illegal purposes.  In addition, it imposes a more thorough guest screening process, limits access to the property to only bonafide guests, and makes trespassers of all unwelcome guests.  If the property owner does not follow the conditions in the agreement, the property could be subject to forfeiture.

Alcohol Law Enforcement Nuisance Abatement Team partners with local law enforcement and community members to conduct thorough investigations utilizing Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes.

Original Source can be found here.