#1, black magistrate charged with pot possession resigns

[Tar Baby Times]

PLYMOUTH, NC (WITN) - A suspended magistrate who was facing
removal after his arrest on a drug charge has resigned.

Danielle Cox resigned Thursday right before a hearing to remove
him from office, according to Washington County Sheriff Johnny
Barnes.

Cox was arrested two weeks ago after deputies say they found pot
in his Italian sports car that was parked behind the courthouse.

Cox was the magistrate on duty August 10th when his car, a 2014
Maserati, was repossessed.

Barnes says acting on information they previously had on Cox,
deputies asked the repossession company if they could search the
car, and Barnes says they agreed.

That's when deputies say they found the marijuana. His was
charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

The resignation leaves Washington County with just one
magistrate.

Another magistrate retired on July 1st, so the sheriff says
until new magistrates are named there are times when his
deputies have to take prisoners to another county for
arraignment.

The sheriff says he hopes at least one of those positions will
soon be filled.

Cox had been a magistrate for 12 years and has a September 27th
court date in Plymouth.

http://www.witn.com/content/news/Magistrate-charged-with-pot-
possession-resigns-491798901.html