James Yokeley (left) sworn in with other Surry County Board of Elections members in July 2025. (Photo: Surry County Board of Elections Facebook page)
The head of the Surry County Board of Elections resigned the position days after news of his arrest on a charge of felony child abuse and about an hour before the State Board’s emergency meeting to talk about him.
Wilmington Police said James Yokeley Jr. flagged down police on Aug. 8 outside a gas station and told them that his two young granddaughters found hard objects in their Dairy Queen ice cream.
Video footage revealed that Yokeley had placed narcotics in the ice cream, police said. He was charged with contaminating food with a controlled substance, felony child abuse, and possession of a schedule I narcotic. Media outlets reported that police field tests showed the small blue pills in the ice cream contained cocaine and MDMA.
State Auditor Dave Boliek appointed Yokeley to head the Surry elections board in June.
A new state law put the Boliek in charge of appointing elections board leaders in all 100 counties. The law also made Republicans the majority in state and local elections boards.
Boliek called for Yokeley to resign and announced the resignation Thursday morning.
The state Board canceled its meeting. The state Board will appoint a new Surry County elections chair after receiving two nominations from the state Republican Party, according to a Board press release.
In his resignation letter, Yokeley said he is confident he’ll be exonerated.
“After much prayer, thoughtful reflection, and consultation, I have concluded that it is in the best interest of the State Board of Elections and the Surry County Board of Elections, regarding my own falsely accused circumstances, to step down at this time,” Yokeley wrote.
“Based on the truth and facts, I remain prayerfully confident that I will be exonerated of all accusations levied against me.”
Hence then, the article about surry county elections chairman resigns after police say he put drugs in granddaughters ice cream was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Surry County elections chairman resigns after police say he put drugs in granddaughters’ ice cream )
Also on site :
- Hollywood mourns loss of beloved makeup artist Jasen Kaplan
- Rose Parade Viewers 'Floored' by 'Disaster' Finale Performance: 'Yikes'
- Rose Parade 2026 awards announced: Top honor goes to Cal Poly Universities