North Carolina Man Charged with Contaminating Granddaughter’s Ice Cream

In a troubling incident, a North Carolina man is facing serious allegations related to his granddaughter’s ice cream. James Edwin Yokelly Jr., 66, has been charged with contaminating food and drinks with controlled substances, along with felony child abuse.

On August 8, Yokelly Jr. approached officers, claiming that his two granddaughters had found a hard object in their ice cream from Dairy Queen. This situation prompted medical personnel to examine the girls, who were cleared of having ingested anything harmful. However, tests revealed that the tablets found were illegal drugs, as noted in a Wilmington Police Department press release.

Following an investigation, police suggested that Yokelly Jr. had spiked the ice cream, corroborated by security footage. The tablets tested positive for cocaine and MDMA, according to reports from law enforcement.

Interestingly, Yokelly Jr. was serving as the chairman of the Surry County Election Commission. After the allegations surfaced, he announced his resignation, stating that he wanted to prioritize the interests of the election process and his local community.

In his resignation letter, he expressed, “This decision has not been made lightly. After much prayer and reflection, I have concluded that stepping down is in the best interest of everyone involved.” He also conveyed confidence in his eventual exoneration.

The State Election Commission acknowledged Yokelly Jr.’s resignation, indicating plans to appoint a new chairman for Surry County soon, following his departures from the role.

Currently, Yokelly Jr. is held at the New Hanover County Detention Center, with secured bonds set at $100,000.