ANSON COUNTY, N.C. — A judge ruled Monday morning that Scott Howell will remain the Anson County Sheriff after hearing a lawsuit.
Howell has been serving as sheriff after he was appointed by the county commissioners to succeed Sheriff Landric Reid who suddenly passed away in September.
However, one side argues that Gerald Cannon should be sheriff. He was appointed before the November election. Until early December, both men were being referred to as “sheriff” by the county.
Howell and Cannon were appointed as sheriffs in back-to-back nights after votes from the county board of commissioners.
A lame-duck majority of commissioners met in an emergency meeting and voted to appoint Gerald Cannon as sheriff. Cannon was the Anson County Democrats’ pick before the state party overrode the selection, citing several rule violations.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: As court injunction denied, Anson County swears in Howell as sheriff ]
The impromptu session did not include all commissioners and some who attended were only present by phone.
A judge later denied Cannon’s request for a preliminary injunction to make him sheriff. Howell was sworn-in during a private ceremony shortly after.
Cannon said he will appeal Monday’s ruling.
(WATCH BELOW: Family hopes to find answers in Anson County man’s death)
This browser does not support the video element.