Haywood County - August 17, 19, 2026: A Canton man will spend more than five decades behind bars following his conviction on child sexual abuse charges, according to an announcement from District Attorney Ashley H. Hornsby.
A Haywood County Superior Court jury delivered a guilty verdict against 43-year-old Phillip Leon Hewlett on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Hewlett was convicted on multiple felony counts:
Two counts of statutory sexual offense with a person 15 or younger
Two counts of indecent liberties with a child
Following the verdict, Hewlett was sentenced to serve more than 50 years in prison in the North Carolina state prison system.
The conviction stems from an investigation launched in May 2025 after local authorities received an initial report detailing the abuse. Investigators compiled evidence that led to Hewlett’s arrest, subsequent indictment, and trial.