Asheville -- November 9, 2026: n Arden man and registered sex offender has been ordered to serve at least a decade in state prison following guilty pleas entered in Buncombe County Superior Court.
Terry Lee Branks, 46, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg to charges of first-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, indecent exposure, and failure to register as a sex offender. Judge Thornburg handed down an active prison sentence of 120 to 156 months (10 to 13 years) in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
The convictions follow an investigation launched by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office on May 22, 2026, in the area of Ledbetter Road and Daphne Drive in Arden. Deputies initially responded to reports from neighborhood residents that a man was exposing himself and masturbating along a dirt road behind a private home.
During the inquiry, investigators uncovered that Branks had also entered an adjacent residence while the occupant was sleeping inside. Items reported stolen from the home included a backpack, personal cosmetics, and wallets. Sheriff’s deputies subsequently identified Branks with assistance from local residents and recovered a portion of the stolen property.
Investigators and court filings additionally confirmed that Branks was not in compliance with North Carolina Sex Offender Registry address verification requirements at the time of the offenses. Branks holds prior convictions across Buncombe, Henderson, and Gaston counties, including indecent liberties with a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, assault on a female, and multiple registry noncompliance violations.
Following the plea entry, Branks was remanded directly into custody to begin serving his term in state prison.
Defendant: Terry Lee Branks, age 46, Arden, N.C.
Presiding Official: Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg
Plea Charges: First-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, indecent exposure, failure to register as a sex offender
Sentence: 120 to 156 months active time in state custody
Investigating Agency: Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office