NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS REPORTS VOLUME 170 3 MAY 2005 7 JUNE 2005 RALEIGH 2006 CITE THIS VOLUME 170 N.C. APP. TABLE OF CONTENTS Judges of the Court of Appeals . v Superior Court Judges . vii District Court Judges . xi Attorney General . xvii District Attorneys . xix Public Defenders . xx Table of Cases Reported . xxi Table of Cases Reported Without Published Opinions . xxiv General Statutes Cited . xxvii Constitution of United States Cited . xxviii Constitution North Carolina Cited . xxviii Rules of Evidence Cited . xxviii Rules of Civil Procedure Cited . xxix Rules of Appellate Procedure Cited . xxix Opinions of the Court of Appeals . 1-699 Headnote Index . 703 Word and Phrase Index . 736 iii This volume is printed on permanent, acid-free paper in compliance with the North Carolina General Statutes. iv THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA Chief Judge JOHN C. MARTIN Judges JAMES A. WYNN, JR. WANDA G. BRYANT LINDA M. MCGEE ANN MARIE CALABRIA PATRICIA TIMMONS-GOODSON RICHARD A. ELMORE ROBERT C. HUNTER SANFORD L. STEELMAN, JR. J. DOUGLAS MCCULLOUGH MARTHA GEER ROBIN E. HUDSON ERIC L. LEVINSON JOHN M. TYSON BARBARA A. JACKSON Emergency Recalled Judges DONALD L. SMITH JOSEPH R. JOHN, SR. JOHN B. LEWIS, JR. Former Chief Judges R. A. HEDRICK GERALD ARNOLD SIDNEY S. EAGLES, JR. Former Judges WILLIAM E. GRAHAM, JR. ELIZABETH G. MCCRODDEN JAMES H. CARSON, JR. ROBERT F. ORR JAMES M. BALEY, JR. SYDNOR THOMPSON DAVID M. BRITT CLIFTON E. JOHNSON J. PHIL CARLTON JACK COZORT BURLEY B. MITCHELL, JR. MARK D. MARTIN RICHARD C. ERWIN JOHN B. LEWIS, JR. EDWARD B. CLARK CLARENCE E. HORTON, JR. HARRY C. MARTIN JOSEPH R. JOHN, SR. ROBERT M. MARTIN ROBERT H. EDMUNDS, JR. CECIL J. HILL JAMES C. FULLER E. MAURICE BRASWELL K. EDWARD GREENE WILLIS P. WHICHARD RALPH A. WALKER JOHN WEBB HUGH B. CAMPBELL, JR. DONALD L. SMITH ALBERT S. THOMAS, JR. CHARLES L. BECTON LORETTA COPELAND BIGGS ALLYSON K. DUNCAN ALAN Z. THORNBURG SARAH PARKER v Administrative Counsel FRANCIS E. DAIL Clerk JOHN H. CONNELL OFFICE OF STAFF COUNSEL Director Leslie Hollowell Davis Assistant Director Daniel M. Horne, Jr. Staff Attorneys John L. Kelly Shelley Lucas Edwards Bryan A. Meer David Alan Lagos Kathleen Naggs Bolton ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS Director Ralph A. Walker Assistant Director David F. Hoke APPELLATE DIVISION REPORTER Ralph A. White, Jr. ASSISTANT APPELLATE DIVISION REPORTERS H. James Hutcheson Kimberly Woodell Sieredzki vi TRIAL JUDGES OF THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS First Division 1 J. RICHARD PARKER Manteo JERRY R. TILLETT Manteo 2 WILLIAM C. GRIFFIN, JR.Williamston 3A W. RUSSELL DUKE, JR. Greenville CLIFTON W. EVERETT, JR. Greenville 6A ALMA L. HINTON Halifax 6B CY A. GRANT, SR.Windsor 7A QUENTIN T. SUMNER Rocky Mount 7B MILTON F. (T OBY) FITCH, JR.Wilson 7BC FRANK R. BROWN Tarboro Second Division 3B BENJAMIN G. ALFORD New Bern KENNETH F. C ROW New Bern JOHN E. NOBLES, JR. Greenville 4A RUSSELL J. LANIER, JR. Kenansville 4B CHARLES H. HENRY Jacksonville 5 ERNEST B. FULLWOOD Wilmington W. ALLEN COBB, JR.Wilmington JAY D. HOCKENBURY Wilmington 8A PAUL L. JONES Kinston 8B JERRY BRASWELL Goldsboro Third Division 9 ROBERT H. HOBGOOD Louisburg HENRY W. HIGHT, JR. Henderson 9A W. OSMOND SMITH III Yanceyville 10 DONALD W. STEPHENS Raleigh NARLEY L. CASHWELL Raleigh ABRAHAM P. J ONES Raleigh HOWARD E. MANNING, JR. Raleigh MICHAEL R. MORGAN Raleigh RIPLEY EAGLES RAND Raleigh 14 ORLANDO F. H UDSON, JR. Durham A. LEON STANBACK, JR. Durham RONALD L. STEPHENS Durham KENNETH C. TITUS Durham 15A J. B. ALLEN, JR. Burlington JAMES CLIFFORD SPENCER, JR. Burlington vii DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS 15B CARL FOX Chapel Hill R. ALLEN BADDOUR Chapel Hill Fourth Division 11A FRANKLIN F. L ANIER Buies Creek 11B KNOX V. JENKINS, JR. Smithfield 12 E. LYNN JOHNSON Fayetteville GREGORY A. WEEKS Fayetteville JACK A. THOMPSON Fayetteville JAMES F. A MMONS, JR. Fayetteville 13 WILLIAM C. GORE, JR. Whiteville OLA M. LEWIS Southport 16A B. CRAIG ELLIS Laurinburg 16B ROBERT F. F LOYD, JR. Lumberton GARY L. LOCKLEAR Pembroke Fifth Division 17A EDWIN GRAVES WILSON, JR. Eden RICHARD W. STONE Wentworth 17B A. MOSES MASSEY Mt. Airy ANDY CROMER King 18 CATHERINE C. EAGLES Greensboro HENRY E. FRYE, JR. Greensboro LINDSAY R. DAVIS, JR. Greensboro JOHN O. CRAIG III Greensboro R. STUART ALBRIGHT Greensboro 19B VANCE BRADFORD LONG Asheboro 21 JUDSON D. DERAMUS, JR.Winston-Salem WILLIAM Z. WOOD, JR.Winston-Salem L. TODD BURKE Winston-Salem RONALD E. SPIVEY Winston-Salem 23 MICHAEL E. HELMS North Wilkesboro Sixth Division 19A W. ERWIN SPAINHOUR Concord 19C LARRY G. FORD Salisbury 19D JAMES M. WEBB Whispering Pines 20A MICHAEL EARLE BEALE Wadesboro 20B SUSAN C. TAYLOR Monroe W. DAVID LEE Monroe 22 MARK E. KLASS Lexington KIMBERLY S. TAYLOR Hiddenite CHRISTOPHER COLLIER Mooresville Seventh Division 25A BEVERLY T. BEAL Lenoir ROBERT C. ERVIN Morganton 25B TIMOTHY S. KINCAID Hickory NATHANIEL J. POOVEY Hickory 26 ROBERT P. J OHNSTON Charlotte viii DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS W. ROBERT BELL Charlotte RICHARD D. BONER Charlotte J. GENTRY CAUDILL Charlotte DAVID S. CAYER Charlotte YVONNE EVANS Charlotte LINWOOD O. FAUST Charlotte 27A JESSE B. CALDWELL III Gastonia TIMOTHY L. PATTI Gastonia 27B FORREST DONALD BRIDGES Shelby JAMES W. MORGAN Shelby Eighth Division 24 JAMES L. BAKER, JR. Marshall CHARLES PHILLIP GINN Marshall 28 DENNIS JAY WINNER Asheville RONALD K. PAYNE Asheville 29A LAURA J. BRIDGES Marion 29B ZORO J. GUICE, JR. Rutherfordton 30A JAMES U. DOWNS Franklin 30B JANET MARLENE HYATT Waynesville SPECIAL JUDGES KARL ADKINS Charlotte STEVE A. BALOG Burlington ALBERT DIAZ Charlotte RICHARD L. DOUGHTON Sparta THOMAS D. HAIGWOOD Greenville JAMES E. HARDIN, JR. Durham D. JACK HOOKS, JR. Whiteville JACK W. JENKINS Morehead City JOHN R. JOLLY, JR. Raleigh JOHN W. SMITH Wilmington BEN F. T ENNILLE Greensboro GARY E. TRAWICK Burgaw EMERGENCY JUDGES W. DOUGLAS ALBRIGHT Greensboro HENRY V. BARNETTE, JR. Raleigh ANTHONY M. BRANNON Durham STAFFORD G. BULLOCK Raleigh C. PRESTON CORNELIUS Mooresville HOWARD R. GREESON, JR. High Point CLARENCE E. HORTON, JR. Kannapolis DONALD M. JACOBS Goldsboro JOSEPH R. JOHN, SR. Raleigh CHARLES C. LAMM, JR. Boone JAMES E. LANNING Charlotte ix DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS JOHN B. LEWIS,JR. Farmville JERRY CASH MARTIN King PETER M. MCHUGH Reidsville JAMES E. RAGAN III Oriental DONALD L. SMITH Raleigh RUSSELL G. WALKER, JR. Asheboro RETIRED/RECALLED JUDGES GILES R. CLARK Elizabethtown JAMES C. DAVIS Concord MARVIN K. GRAY Charlotte ROBERT D. LEWIS Asheville F. F ETZER MILLS Wadesboro HERBERT O. PHILLIPS III Morehead City JULIUS ROUSSEAU, JR. North Wilkesboro THOMAS W. SEAY Spencer x DISTRICT COURT DIVISION DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS 1GRAFTON G. BEAMAN (Chief) Elizabeth City C. CHRISTOPHER BEAN Edenton J. CARLTON COLE Hertford EDGAR L. BARNES Manteo AMBER DAVIS Wanchese 2JAMES W. HARDISON (Chief) Williamston SAMUEL G. GRIMES Washington MICHAEL A. PAUL Washington REGINA ROGERS PARKER Williamston 3A DAVID A. LEECH (Chief) Greenville PATRICIA GWYNETT HILBURN Greenville JOSEPH A. BLICK, JR. Greenville G. GALEN BRADDY Greenville CHARLES M. VINCENT Greenville 3B JERRY F. WADDELL (Chief) New Bern CHERYL LYNN SPENCER New Bern PAUL M. QUINN Morehead City KAREN A. ALEXANDER New Bern PETER MACK, JR. New Bern 4LEONARD W. THAGARD (Chief) Clinton JAMES L. MOORE, JR. Jacksonville PAUL A. HARDISON Jacksonville WILLIAM M. CAMERON III Richlands LOUIS F. F OY, JR. Pollocksville SARAH COWEN SEATON Jacksonville CAROL A. JONES Kenansville HENRY L. STEVENS IV Kenansville 5JOHN J. CARROLL III (Chief) Wilmington J. H. CORPENING II (Interim Chief) Wilmington SHELLY S. HOLT Wilmington REBECCA W. BLACKMORE Wilmington JAMES H. FAISON III Wilmington SANDRA CRINER Wilmington RICHARD RUSSELL DAVIS Wilmington PHYLLIS M. GORHAM Wilmington 6A HAROLD PAUL MCCOY, JR. (Chief) Halifax W. TURNER STEPHENSON III Halifax 6B ALFRED W. KWASIKPUI (Chief) Jackson THOMAS R. J. NEWBERN Aulander WILLIAM ROBERT LEWIS II Winton 7WILLIAM CHARLES FARRIS (Chief) Wilson JOSEPH JOHN HARPER, JR.Tarboro JOHN M. BRITT Tarboro PELL C. COOPER Tarboro ROBERT A. EVANS Rocky Mount WILLIAM G. STEWART Wilson JOHN J. COVOLO Rocky Mount 8JOSEPH E. SETZER, JR. (Chief) Goldsboro DAVID B. BRANTLEY Goldsboro LONNIE W. CARRAWAY Goldsboro xi DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS R. LESLIE TURNER Kinston ROSE VAUGHN WILLIAMS Goldsboro ELIZABETH A. HEATH Kinston 9CHARLES W. WILKINSON, JR. (Chief) Oxford H. WELDON LLOYD, JR. Henderson DANIEL FREDERICK FINCH Oxford J. HENRY BANKS Henderson JOHN W. DAVIS Louisburg RANDOLPH BASKERVILLE Warrenton 9A MARK E. GALLOWAY (Chief) Roxboro L. MICHAEL GENTRY Pelham 10 JOYCE A. HAMILTON (Chief) Raleigh JAMES R. FULLWOOD Raleigh ANNE B. SALISBURY Raleigh ROBERT BLACKWELL RADER Raleigh PAUL G. GESSNER Raleigh KRISTIN H. RUTH Raleigh CRAIG CROOM Raleigh JENNIFER M. GREEN Raleigh MONICA M. BOUSMAN Raleigh JANE POWELL GRAY Raleigh SHELLY H. DESVOUGES Raleigh JENNIFER JANE KNOX Raleigh DEBRA ANN SMITH SASSER Raleigh DONNA S. STROUD Raleigh VINSTON M. ROZIER, JR. Raleigh 11 ALBERT A. CORBETT, JR. (Chief) Smithfield JACQUELYN L. LEE Sanford JIMMY L. LOVE, JR. Sanford ADDIE M. HARRIS-RAWLS Clayton GEORGE R. MURPHY Lillington RESSON O. FAIRCLOTH II Lillington JAMES B. ETHRIDGE Smithfield ROBERT W. BRYANT Lillington 12 A. ELIZABETH KEEVER (Chief) Fayetteville JOHN S. HAIR, JR. Fayetteville ROBERT J. STIEHL III Fayetteville EDWARD A. PONE Fayetteville C. EDWARD DONALDSON Fayetteville KIMBRELL KELLY TUCKER Fayetteville JOHN W. DICKSON Fayetteville CHERI BEASLEY Fayetteville DOUGALD CLARK, JR. Fayetteville 13 JERRY A. JOLLY (Chief) Tabor City NAPOLEON B. BAREFOOT, JR. Supply THOMAS V. ALDRIDGE, JR. Whiteville NANCY C. PHILLIPS Elizabethtown DOUGLAS B. SASSER Whiteville MARION R. WARREN Exum 14 ELAINE M. BUSHFAN (Chief) Durham RICHARD G. CHANEY Durham CRAIG B. BROWN Durham ANN E. MCKOWN Durham xii DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS MARCIA H. MOREY Durham JAMES T. HILL Durham 15A JAMES K. ROBERSON (Chief) Graham ERNEST J. HARVIEL Graham BRADLEY REID ALLEN, SR. Graham G. WAYNE ABERNATHY Graham 15B JOSEPH M.