GOP North Carolina Election Official Resigns After Allegedly Drugging Teens’ Dairy Queen Treats

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 have concluded that it’s in the best interest of the State Board of Elections, regarding my own falsely accused circumstances, to step down at this time.” 

He maintained that he is “prayerfully confident” he will be “exonerated of all accusations.”

State Auditor Dave Boliek, who appointed Yokeley last June, welcomed the resignation.

“With his resignation, the Surry County Board and State Board can now, without distraction, move forward with the process of appointing a replacement,” Boliek said, emphasizing the need for stable leadership at the local level, per the New York Post.

Sarah Whisenant, owner of the Dairy Queen, told WECT-TV that neither Yokeley nor the teenagers were known to her, but she expressed relief that the incident was documented on surveillance video. 

“Thank goodness we had video,” she said, noting that four employees were working at the time and had no involvement in the incident. 

Yokeley faces multiple felony charges, including contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance and child abuse, The Blaze reports. 

In court, the 66-year-old waived his right to a court-appointed attorney and was instructed to have no contact with the teenagers. 

He posted a $100,000 bond for his release. Authorities continue to investigate and monitor the case. 

Before joining the elections board, Yokeley ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Surry County Board of Education in the 2022 Republican primary, securing 26.69 percent of the vote.

His campaign emphasized national COVID-19 policies and promoted unsubstantiated claims regarding the 2020 presidential election. 

After the loss, he continued posting anti-vaccine content on social media, asserting without evidence that COVID vaccines caused more adverse effects than all previous vaccines combined, according to The Post. 

The case has drawn attention to local election board oversight and leadership accountability. 

Both the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Surry County Board stated they are monitoring the situation closely and will provide support as needed, underscoring the importance of public trust in election administration.

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