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Posted: February 10

Case against Johnston County magistrate without merit

Sam Blake, Johnston magistrate

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Sam Blake, Johnston magistrate
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Smithfield, N.C. — A Johnston County judge backed Magistrate Sam Blake Jr. Thursday, dismissing a petition for his removal from office.

Candy Pinkus, of Clayton, had filed the petition in January, saying Blake had been rude and unprofessional with her. Chief District Court Judge Albert A. Corbett Jr., in ordering the petition dismissed, wrote that Pinkus' petition "does not set forth grounds for removal" of Blake.

The dismissal does not mean that Blake is in the clear, however. He faces a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats while on duty. According to the State Bureau of Investigation, Blake told a criminal suspect, "If I catch you over there, I'll shoot and kill you."

Another police officer alleged Blake has called other magistrates racist. In all, the county has more than 180 pages of documented complaints against Blake.

RELATED TOPICS: Johnston County, State Bureau of Investigation, Clayton, Racism

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Latest Comments
WOW i guess all the pages of where this magastrate has complaints on him was not allowed as evidence of his behavior. go figure...
Ladyblue- the Phoenix
February 13, 2012 2:35 p.m.
Why am I not surprised that the same Judge that didn't find merit in my complaint a year ago found no merit in the Petition?! Sounds like he and Blake have much in common. I hope the SBI can do justice for the good people of JoCo. I also hope to never need the assistance of the Magistrate's office again. My experience leaves bitter disappointment, at least with the few I have dealt with. I have read in several posts that there are many that need to be removed from the courthouse; I agree! It has turned into a riduculous mockery - a place you turn to for help and guidance only to end up as a fiasco. As they say in JoCo, "You need to get a pair".
candync
February 13, 2012 12:39 p.m.
Glad I don't live in Johnston County. This guy sounds like someone who should be brought before a magistrate.
kermit60
February 13, 2012 10:44 a.m.
It is HARD to remove someone from the "bench".
babymama
February 10, 2012 7:52 p.m.
What happened? He wasn't rude enough? It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to have any action taken against those in positions of authority. When the fact of the matter is they should be more subject to dismissal for unprofessional behavior. But alas, this comes as no surprise. After all this is the country where cops and beat an unarmed man senseless, get fired and then get a million bucks in a lawsuit, go figure.
imtoofastforyou2
February 10, 2012 7:45 p.m.
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