North Carolina Election Official Arrested for Spiking Granddaughters’ Ice Cream with Drugs

A 66-year-old election official in North Carolina has been taken into custody after allegedly putting pills containing cocaine and MDMA into his granddaughters’ ice cream. The incident was reported in early August when the girls, aged 15 and 16, found the mysterious objects in their ice cream purchased at a local Dairy Queen.

James Edwin Yokeley Jr. approached law enforcement himself on August 8, claiming that his granddaughters had discovered the drugs in their dessert. The pills were quickly collected and sent for laboratory testing, which confirmed the presence of controlled substances.

Security footage from the Dairy Queen showed Yokeley placing the pills into the girls’ ice cream, casting doubt on his initial account. He was subsequently booked on suspicion of tampering with food and child abuse charges.

Yokeley resigned from his volunteer role as chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections, stating he is hopeful he will be cleared of all accusations. He explained that his decision to step down was made after prayer and reflection, and he emphasized his innocence.

The state’s Auditor, who appointed Yokeley last June, called for his resignation to allow the board to proceed without distraction. Yokeley’s political background includes a run for the Surry County Board of Education in 2022, where he received about 27% of the vote, with his campaign focusing heavily on conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 and election integrity.

He made claims online suggesting that COVID vaccines caused more deaths than all previous vaccines—claims for which no evidence has been provided. After posting a $100,000 bond, Yokeley awaits further legal proceedings. He is charged with contaminating food and felony child abuse.