Maxton mayor to apologize for assault

Maxton, N.C. — Maxton Mayor Gladys Dean has agreed to apologize to a woman she was accused of assaulting in November during the town's annual Collard Festival.

Rene Ward, the owner of two dance studios, said Dean grabbed her arm while Ward's troupe was performing at the festival and stopped the performance.

The apology was part of a deferred prosecution deal agreed to by both sides. If Dean has no contact with Ward for six months, the simple assault charge against her will be dismissed, authorities said.