NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS REPORTS VOLUME 186 18 SEPTEMBER 2007 6 NOVEMBER 2007 RALEIGH 2009 CITE THIS VOLUME 186 N.C. APP. TABLE OF CONTENTS Judges of the Court of Appeals . v Superior Court Judges . vii District Court Judges . xi Attorney General . xviii District Attorneys . xx Public Defenders . xxi Table of Cases Reported . xxii Table of Cases Reported Without Published Opinions . xxv General Statutes Cited . xxviii United States Constitution Cited . xxix North Carolina Constitution Cited . xxix Rules of Evidence Cited . xxix Rules of Civil Procedure Cited . xxix Rules of Appellate Procedure Cited . xxix Opinions of the Court of Appeals . 1-681 Headnote Index . 683 Word and Phrase Index . 720 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. RICHARD A. ELMORE LINDA M. MCGEE SANFORD L. STEELMAN, JR. ROBERT C. HUNTER MARTHA GEER J. DOUGLAS MCCULLOUGH BARBARA A. JACKSON JOHN M. TYSON LINDA STEPHENS WANDA G. BRYANT DONNA S. STROUD ANN MARIE CALABRIA JOHN S. ARROWOOD* 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. JACK COZORT JAMES H. CARSON, JR. MARK D. MARTIN DAVID M. BRITT JOHN B. LEWIS, JR. J. PHIL CARLTON CLARENCE E. HORTON, JR. BURLEY B. MITCHELL, JR. JOSEPH R. JOHN, SR. HARRY C. MARTIN ROBERT H. EDMUNDS, JR. E. MAURICE BRASWELL JAMES C. FULLER WILLIS P. WHICHARD K. EDWARD GREENE DONALD L. SMITH RALPH A. WALKER CHARLES L. BECTON HUGH B. CAMPBELL, JR. ALLYSON K. DUNCAN ALBERT S. THOMAS, JR. SARAH PARKER LORETTA COPELAND BIGGS ELIZABETH G. MCCRODDEN ALAN Z. THORNBURG ROBERT F. ORR PATRICIA TIMMONS-GOODSON SYDNOR THOMPSON ERIC L. LEVINSON CLIFTON E. JOHNSON *Appointed by Governor Michael F. Easley and sworn in 7 September 2007 to replace Eric L. Levinson who resigned 6 July 2007. v Administrative Counsel DANIEL M. HORNE, JR. 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 Alyssa M. Chen Celeste Howard Charity Sturdivant Eugene H. Soar Yolanda Lawrence Matthew Wunsche Nikiann Tarantino Gray ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS Director John W. Smith* Assistant Director David F. Hoke APPELLATE DIVISION REPORTER Ralph A. White, Jr. ASSISTANT APPELLATE DIVISION REPORTERS H. James Hutcheson Kimberly Woodell Sieredzki *Appointed by Chief Justice Sarah Parker effective 1 January 2009 to replace Ralph A. Walker who retired 31 December 2008. 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. Ocracoke 3A W. RUSSELL DUKE, JR. Greenville CLIFTON W. EVERETT, JR. Greenville 6A ALMA L. HINTON Roanoke Rapids 6B CY A. GRANT, SR. Ahoskie 7A QUENTIN T. SUMNER Rocky Mount MILTON F. (TOBY) FITCH, JR. Wilson 7BC WALTER H. GODWIN, JR. Tarboro Second Division 3B BENJAMIN G. ALFORD New Bern KENNETH F. CROW New Bern JOHN E. NOBLES, JR. Morehead City 4A RUSSELL J. LANIER, JR. Beulaville 4B CHARLES H. HENRY Jacksonville 5 W. ALLEN COBB, JR. Wrightsville Beach JAY D. HOCKENBURY Wilmington PHYLLIS M. GORHAM Wilmington 8A PAUL L. JONES Kinston 8B ARNOLD O. JONES II Goldsboro Third Division 9 ROBERT H. HOBGOOD Louisburg HENRY W. HIGHT, JR. Henderson 9A W. OSMOND SMITH III Semora 10 DONALD W. STEPHENS Raleigh ABRAHAM P. J ONES Raleigh HOWARD E. MANNING, JR. Raleigh MICHAEL R. MORGAN Raleigh PAUL C. GESSNER Wake Forest PAUL C. RIDGEWAY Raleigh 14 ORLANDO F. HUDSON, 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 15B CARL R. FOX Chapel Hill R. ALLEN BADDOUR Pittsboro vii DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS Fourth Division 11A FRANKLIN F. L ANIER Buies Creek 11B THOMAS H. LOCK Smithfield 12 E. LYNN JOHNSON Fayetteville GREGORY A. WEEKS Fayetteville JACK A. THOMPSON Fayetteville JAMES F. A MMONS, JR. Fayetteville 13A DOUGLAS B. SASSER Whiteville 13B OLA M. LEWIS Southport 16A RICHARD T. BROWN Laurinburg 16B ROBERT F. F LOYD, JR. Lumberton JAMES GREGORY BELL Lumberton Fifth Division 17A EDWIN GRAVES WILSON, JR. Eden RICHARD W. STONE Eden 17B A. MOSES MASSEY Mt. Airy ANDY CROMER King 18 CATHERINE C. EAGLES Greensboro HENRY E. FRYE, JR. Pleasant Garden LINDSAY R. DAVIS, JR. Greensboro JOHN O. CRAIG III High Point R. STUART ALBRIGHT Greensboro 19B VANCE BRADFORD LONG Asheboro 19D JAMES M. WEBB Whispering Pines 21 JUDSON D. DERAMUS, JR. Winston-Salem WILLIAM Z. WOOD, JR. Clemmons L. TODD BURKE Winston-Salem RONALD E. SPIVEY Winston-Salem 23 EDGAR B. GREGORY Wilkesboro Sixth Division 19A W. ERWIN SPAINHOUR Concord 19C JOHN L. HOLSHOUSER, JR. Salisbury 20A TANYA T. WALLACE Rockingham KEVIN M. BRIDGES Oakboro 20B W. DAVID LEE Monroe 22A Christopher Collier Statesville JOSEPH CROSSWHITE Statesville 22B MARK E. KLASS Lexington THEODORE S. ROYSTER, JR. Lexington Seventh Division 25A BEVERLY T. BEAL Lenoir ROBERT C. ERVIN Morganton 25B TIMOTHY S. KINCAID Newton NATHANIEL J. POOVEY Newton 26 ROBERT P. J OHNSTON Charlotte W. ROBERT BELL Charlotte RICHARD D. BONER Charlotte viii DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS J. GENTRY CAUDILL Charlotte DAVID S. CAYER Charlotte YVONNE MIMS EVANS Charlotte LINWOOD O. FOUST 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 Boone 28 DENNIS JAY WINNER Asheville ALAN Z. THORNBURG Asheville 29A LAURA J. BRIDGES Rutherfordton 29B MARK E. POWELL Hendersonville 30A JAMES U. DOWNS Franklin 30B JANET MARLENE HYATT Waynesville SPECIAL JUDGES ALBERT DIAZ Charlotte RICHARD L. DOUGHTON Sparta THOMAS D. HAIGWOOD Greenville JAMES E. HARDIN, JR. Hillsborough D. JACK HOOKS, JR. Whiteville JACK W. JENKINS Morehead City JOHN R. JOLLY, JR. Raleigh SHANNON R. JOSEPH Raleigh CALVIN MURPHY Charlotte WILLIAM R. PITTMAN Raleigh RIPLEY EAGLES RAND Raleigh JOHN W. SMITH Wilmington BEN F. TENNILLE Greensboro CRESSIE H. THIGPEN, JR. Raleigh GARY E. TRAWICK, JR. Burgaw EMERGENCY JUDGES W. DOUGLAS ALBRIGHT Greensboro STEVE A. BALOG Burlington MICHAEL E. BEALE Rockingham HENRY V. BARNETTE, JR. Raleigh ANTHONY M. BRANNON Durham STAFFORD G. BULLOCK Raleigh NARLEY L. CASHWELL Wake Forest C. PRESTON CORNELIUS Mooresville B. CRAIG ELLIS Laurinburg ERNEST B. FULLWOOD Wilmington ix DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS ZORO J. GUICE, JR. Hendersonville MICHAEL E. HELMS North Wilkesboro CLARENCE E. HORTON, JR. Kannapolis DONALD M. JACOBS Raleigh CLIFTON E. JOHNSON Charlotte CHARLES C. LAMM, JR. Terrell JAMES E. LANNING Charlotte GARY LYNN LOCKLEAR Pembroke JERRY CASH MARTIN Mt. Airy JAMES E. RAGAN III Oriental DONALD L. SMITH Raleigh JOHN M. TYSON Fayetteville GEORGE L. WAINWRIGHT Morehead City RETIRED/RECALLED JUDGES FRANK R. BROWN Tarboro JAMES C. DAVIS Concord LARRY G. FORD Salisbury MARVIN K. GRAY Charlotte KNOX V. JENKINS Four Oaks JOHN B. LEWIS, JR. Farmville ROBERT D. LEWIS Asheville JULIUS A. ROUSSEAU, JR. Wilkesboro THOMAS W. SEAY Spencer RALPH A. WALKER, JR. Raleigh x DISTRICT COURT DIVISION DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS 1 C. CHRISTOPHER BEAN (Chief) Edenton J. CARLTON COLE Hertford EDGAR L. BARNES Manteo AMBER DAVIS Wanchese EULA E. REID Elizabeth City 2SAMUEL G. GRIMES (Chief) Washington MICHAEL A. PAUL Washington REGINA ROGERS PARKER Williamston CHRISTOPHER B. MCLENDON 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 L. WALTER MILLS New Bern 4 LEONARD W. THAGARD (Chief) Clinton 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 JAMES L. MOORE, JR. Jacksonville 5 J. H. CORPENING II (Chief) Wilmington JOHN J. CARROLL III Wilmington REBECCA W. BLACKMORE Wilmington JAMES H. FAISON III Wilmington SANDRA CRINER Wilmington RICHARD RUSSELL DAVIS Wilmington MELINDA HAYNIE CROUCH Wilmington JEFFREY EVAN NOECKER Wilmington 6A BRENDA G. BRANCH (Chief) Halifax W. TURNER STEPHENSON III Halifax TERESA RAQUEL ROBINSON Enfield 6B ALFRED W. KWASIKPUI (Chief) Jackson THOMAS R. J. NEWBERN Aulander WILLIAM ROBERT LEWIS II Winton 7 WILLIAM 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 8DAVID B. BRANTLEY (Chief) Goldsboro LONNIE W. CARRAWAY Goldsboro xi DISTRICT JUDGES ADDRESS R. LESLIE TURNER Kinston TIMOTHY I. FINAN Goldsboro ELIZABETH A. HEATH Kinston CHARLES P. G AYLOR III Goldsboro 9DANIEL FREDERICK FINCH (Chief) Oxford J. HENRY BANKS Henderson JOHN W. DAVIS Louisburg RANDOLPH BASKERVILLE Warrenton S. QUON BRIDGES Oxford CAROLYN J. YANCEY Henderson 9A MARK E. GALLOWAY (Chief) Roxboro L. MICHAEL GENTRY Pelham 10 ROBERT BLACKWELL RADER (Chief) Raleigh JAMES R. FULLWOOD Raleigh ANNE B. SALISBURY Raleigh KRISTIN H. RUTH Raleigh CRAIG CROOM Raleigh JENNIFER M. GREEN Raleigh MONICA M. BOUSMAN Raleigh JANE POWELL GRAY Raleigh JENNIFER JANE KNOX Raleigh DEBRA ANN SMITH SASSER Raleigh VINSTON M. ROZIER, JR. Raleigh LORI G. CHRISTIAN Raleigh CHRISTINE M. WALCZYK Raleigh ERIC CRAIG CHASSE Raleigh NED WILSON MANGUM Raleigh JACQUELINE L. BREWER Apex ANNA ELENA WORLEY Raleigh 11 ALBERT A. CORBETT, JR. (Chief) Smithfield JACQUELYN L. LEE Sanford JIMMY L. LOVE, JR. Sanford O. HENRY WILLIS Smithfield ADDIE M. HARRIS-RAWLS Clayton RESSON O. FAIRCLOTH II Lillington ROBERT W. BRYANT, JR. Lillington R. DALE STUBBS Lillington CHARLES PATRICK BULLOCK Coats PAUL A. HOLCOMBE Smithfield 12 A.