Robert Charles Soles Jr. (December 17, 1934 – February 5, 2021) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the 8th district from 1977 to 2011.[1] His district included Brunswick, Columbus and Pender counties. From 1969 to 1976, Soles served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Republican Bill Rabon now holds the seat that Soles held for over three decades; it had not been held by a Republican since 1869.[2]

R.C. Soles Jr.
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office
January 1, 1977 – January 1, 2011
Preceded byEdd Nye
Succeeded byBill Rabon
Constituency11th District (1977–1983)
18th District (1983–2003)
8th District (2003–2011)
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
In office
January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1977
Preceded byOdell Williamson
Clyde Moore Collier
Succeeded byEdd Nye
George Ronald Taylor
Constituency13th District (1969–1973)
19th District (1973–1977)
Personal details
Born
Robert Charles Soles Jr.

(1934-12-17)December 17, 1934
Tabor City, North Carolina
DiedFebruary 5, 2021(2021-02-05) (aged 86)
Loris, South Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceTabor City, North Carolina
Alma materWake Forest University (BA)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD)
OccupationAttorney

Soles was the chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Biography

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He was the son of Robert C. (Rob) Soles, a local hardware store owner. He attended the Tabor City school system before leaving briefly to attend university. Soles was a lifelong bachelor with a close endearing friendship to his lifelong law partner, William(Bill) W. Phipps. They built adjacent houses in a private neighborhood on Lake Tabor.

Career

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Soles graduated with a B.A. from Wake Forest University and received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He was a practicing attorney at Soles, Phipps, Ray, and Prince Law Firm in Tabor City, North Carolina. Sherry Dew Prince broke ties with Soles when she pursued an elected position as a District Judge and she opened a solo practice in Whiteville, North Carolina. In 2006, the N.C. Bar Association inducted him into the General Practice Hall of Fame. At one point, the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research named him the 8th most effective member of the legislature.

Soles was the founding president of the Southeastern Community College Foundation, a former member of the Governor's Crime Commission, and former board member of the Columbus County Community Foundation and Opera Company of North Carolina.

1980s criminal investigations

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Soles was indicted in 1983 for conspiracy, vote buying, perjury, and aiding and abetting bribery. A judge dismissed three of the charges and Soles was acquitted of aiding and abetting Columbus County Commissioner Edward Walton Williamson in obtaining payoffs from undercover FBI agents.[3]

Allegations and Assault conviction

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In 2009 allegations from several men were published, claiming that Soles sexually abused them when they were minors.[4] In another incident, he allegedly pepper sprayed a young man. Soles has denied having sexual relations with any of the young men.[5] In an August, 2009 incident, he shot a young man and former legal client in the leg while he was allegedly trying to kick in Soles' front door. Soles' lawyer, Joseph Cheshire, said the shooting was self-defense. Cheshire and Soles both stated that Soles has been generous to former clients in hoping to ease them back to a law-abiding life.

On December 30, 2009, Soles (at the time, the longest-serving legislator in the state) announced he would not seek re-election in 2010.

On 7 January 2010, Soles was indicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.[6] Soles pled guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was fined $1,000.[7][8]

The allegations resurfaced in June 2011, with three men having publicly accused Soles of sexual abuse.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Robert Charles "Rc" Soles Obituary (2021) the News & Observer". Legacy.com.
  2. ^ Gannon, Patrick. 10 questions with State Senator-elect Bill Rabon, Wilmington StarNews, November 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Vance, Merton. Judge Relieves Soles of 3 Charges; one left, Wilmington Morning Star, August 9, 1983.
  4. ^ "Man Alleges Sexual Assault By Soles". Archived from the original on 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  5. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/1151324.html[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ News & Observer: Soles indicted Archived 2012-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Man linked to Soles charged with jury tampering | StarNewsOnline.com
  8. ^ Kristy Ondo (February 25, 2010). "Judge accepts NC lawmaker's guilty plea on assault charge". live5news.com.
  9. ^ R.C. Soles accused of taking advantage of troubled teens; ex-senator denies allegations | StarNewsOnline.com
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North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by
Odell Williamson
Clyde Moore Collier
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 13th district

1969–1973
Served alongside: Arthur W. Williamson, Thomas Joseph Harrelson Jr.
Succeeded by
William Thomas Watkins
James Edward Ramsey
Bobby Wayne Rogers
Preceded by
Samuel Henry Johnson
Howard Fabing Twiggs
Robert L. Farrmer
Robert W. Wynne
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 19th district

1973–1977
Served alongside: Jimmy Green, Charles Graham Tart, Ottis Richard Wright Jr.
Succeeded by
Edd Nye
George Ronald Taylor
North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 11th district

1977–1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 18th district

1983–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 8th district

2003–2011
Succeeded by