Buncombe County -- July 5, 2026: A 42-year-old man is heading to state prison for up to a decade after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges stemming from an encounter with local law enforcement.
The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced that Jeffery Lane Gillespie entered his guilty plea in Buncombe County Superior Court. The charges included Felony Flee to Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle and Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer Causing Physical Injury.
During the proceedings, Gillespie also admitted to his status as a habitual felon, a designation that significantly enhances sentencing guidelines under North Carolina law for repeat offenders.
Following the entry of the plea, Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Grant sentenced Gillespie to an active term of 90 to 120 months (7.5 to 10 years). He will serve his sentence in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
The District Attorney's office did not release further details regarding the specific date of the incident or the current condition of the injured officer.