Sheriff’s office seeking Chocowinity commissioner for assault, other violations

Published 7:36 pm Thursday, May 10, 2018

Law enforcement agencies in Beaufort and Pitt counties are seeking information on the whereabouts of Chocowinity Town Commissioner Curt Jenkins, who faces new charges of second-degree kidnapping, felony assault by strangulation and violating a judge’s order.

These charges are the latest in what has been a long string of run-ins with the law for Jenkins during the past two and a half years. Jenkins has faced assault charges on five prior occasions:

  • On Dec. 31, 2015, he was charged with felony assault by strangulation at a New Year’s Eve party.
  • In August and October of 2016, he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault on a female.
  • In November 2017, he and his brother, John Jenkins, were charged with felony assault following an altercation with a tenant of one of their mother’s rental properties.
  • Less than two weeks later, on Nov. 24, 2017, Jenkins was charged in Pitt County with assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious injury in the presence of a minor, assault on a child under the age of 12 and interfering with emergency communications.

According to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jim Vanlandingham, the latest incident was reported to the BCSO on May 4, and involved the same victim of the Nov. 24 assault. The victim sought medical attention at Vidant Hospital in Greenville, and Jenkins was released on bond following that assault.

“One of the conditions of release was to have no contact with that victim,” Vanlandingham said. “He’s in violation of his conditions of release, so a Pitt County magistrate has issued an order for his arrest for that violation.”

The BCSO, meanwhile, has obtained a warrant from a magistrate for Jenkins’ arrest on the strangulation and kidnapping charges. Vanlandingham also confirmed that Jenkins has been in contact with the BCSO and has been ordered to turn himself in immediately.

Attempts to reach Jenkins for comment on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Anyone with information regarding Jenkins’ location should call the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 252-946-7111, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office at 252-902-2800 or Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at 252-974-6400. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tips leading to arrests.