N Carolina sheriff accused of plotting killing is suspended

OXFORD, N.C. – A North Carolina sheriff accused of helping plot the killing of a deputy has been suspended.

The attorney for Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins issued a statement Monday that said his client voluntarily agreed to the suspension. Thomas C. Manning says in the statement that Wilkins looks forward to “exoneration and resumption of his duties.”

Wilkins was indicted last week on felony justice obstruction charges over allegations that he discussed killing a former deputy.

Prosecutors say Wilkins learned in 2014 that deputy Joshua Freeman planned to release a recording of him saying “racially offensive” comments.

The indictment says Wilkins spoke with an unidentified third party about killing Freeman and coached the person on how to avoid being discovered by law enforcement.