Man Convicted in Buncombe County Faces at Least 8 Years in Prison

Asheville --  Press Release Buncombe County DA Office: The office of the Buncombe County District Attorney announces the conviction of Michael Charles Carroll, 42. Pursuant to a plea arrangement entered in Buncombe County Superior Court before the Honorable Judge Alan Thornburg, Carroll pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, Habitual Felon, Looting, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, several counts of Breaking and/or Entering, and several counts of Larceny After Breaking and/or Entering.

As a result of his guilty pleas and his status as a Habitual Felon, Judge Thornburg sentenced Carroll to serve 101 to 134 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.

The charges originated from an incident where a local business owner witnessed Carroll in the act of stealing a bicycle. The business owner confronted Carroll, who then fled in a truck. During his hasty departure, the stolen bicycle fell from the back of the vehicle and was recovered at the scene.

Following the incident, officers from the Asheville Police Department (APD), Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), and Black Mountain Police Department (BMPD) collaborated to identify Carroll as the suspect. A subsequent search of Carroll’s camper yielded stolen property and, eventually, a firearm. Further investigation revealed that Carroll had asked his partner to hide the gun during a recorded jail call, leading to its discovery by law enforcement with the assistance of a Special Weapons team.

North Carolina law permits enhanced sentences for individuals who have attained the status of Habitual Felon, which is defined as committing a fourth felony offense after having been sentenced for three prior felonies in non-overlapping convictions.

Judge Thornburg further ordered Carroll to pay $5,217.31 in restitution.

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