North Carolina newspaper editor vows to fight subpoena

A North Carolina newspaper editor will fight a subpoena for his notes and testimony in an obstruction of justice case against a county sheriff, news@norman reported.

Ken H. Fortenberry, editor of news@norman, received the subpoena on Jan. 27 and told the defense lawyer yesterday that he would not appear without a court order because the subpoena is an effort to hinder the paper’s coverage of the trial.

"This move, coupled by the failed attempt by the sheriff’s PR man last summer to have me arrested is nothing short of a despicable fishing expedition by a frantic defendant,” Fortenberry told news@norman.

The paper has stated that it will file a motion to quash the subpoena if he is compelled to testify.

Lincoln County Sheriff Tim Daugherty was charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor after not cooperating with an investigation into whether he released a local doctor without charge after being picked up for drunken driving, according to news@norman.