The head of the Surry County Board of Elections in North Carolina resigned Thursday following police allegations that he drugged his step-granddaughter and her friend with controlled substances at a local Dairy Queen.
Surveillance footage from the fast food restaurant in New Hanover County reportedly contradicted his account of the events, capturing him allegedly placing pills into the teenagers’ ice cream treats.
James Yokeley Jr., a Republican appointed board chair in June 2025, approached officers on Aug. 3 claiming the teenagers had discovered hard objects in their ice cream.
Police said the video evidence directly contradicted his statements, showing him placing the pills himself. The incident prompted immediate law enforcement investigation and widespread local attention.
“He can be seen placing something on the counter, and it’s pretty apparent that when the employees make the drinks, he’s trying to observe if anybody’s observing him,” Wilmington Police Lt. Greg Willett said during a press conference.
Field tests revealed that the small blue pills contained cocaine and MDMA, although neither teen ingested the substances.
Yokeley formally resigned in a letter to the Surry County Board of Elections, stating, “This decision has not been made lightly. After much prayer, thoughtful reflection and consultation, I