Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 1:57
In a controversial move, more than 4,200 prisoners were released in North Carolina under a historic settlement in the NAACP v. Roy Cooper case, with many committing new violent crimes. The release, which began in 2021, has sparked debate about public safety and accountability.
According to The Center Square, the releases included over 700 prisoners beyond the initial 3,500, with 24 charged in homicide-related offenses and 99 charged with sex offenses. Of the 195 originally charged with violent crimes, 125 have new charges for homicide, sex offenses, or violent felonies. The Department of Public Safety initially stated that inmates convicted of crimes against persons were ineligible, but data reveals otherwise. The Feb. 25, 2021, statement from the Department of Public Safety included no public release of names or searchable database. It said criteria for the release were those who may be pregnant, already on home leave with a 2021 projected release date, already on work release with a 2021 release date, or have a 2021 projected release date. Specifically, it said for inmates to be considered, “offenders must NOT be serving a sentence for a crime against a person.” Names did go public earlier this year, and journalist Stephen Horn has provided the database.
Randy Sharpe Jr., convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2019, was charged in a June 2022 homicide and killed two in a December 2022 auto crash. Lesselle Spencer, convicted in 2011 for attempting to run over an officer, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2025 for killing a man execution-style. Calvin Locklear, jailed for a 2011 manslaughter conviction from a 2008 armed robbery, shot a man to death 19 days after his June 2021 release. DeCarlos Brown, convicted in the murder of Iryna Zarutka on the Blue Line light rail last August, was also among those released.
Among the released were also David Wayne White, Carlos D. McCombs, and Kenny Purcell Green. White pled guilty to 17 felonies, including four counts of rape and five counts of burglary; he raped and assaulted his victims, holding several at gunpoint, and slashed one victim from chest to navel. Cooper agreed to release White in December 2021. McCombs carried out two armed assaults in Mecklenburg County in June 1998, raping, sexually assaulting, and robbing two women; he was convicted on four counts of first-degree sexual offense and sentenced to decades in prison. Cooper agreed to release McCombs in February 2021. Green had been convicted of assault on a female and two separate firearm felonies before he sexually abused a teenager in Wake County on multiple occasions; he was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison before being released early under Cooper's deal, and he reoffended in fewer than 100 days after release.
Cooper, now a U.S. Senate candidate, has deflected blame, saying the court ordered the release and prison officials made decisions. However, his name was on the settlement as defendant, and he appointed the DPS secretary. Republicans have used the issue to attack Cooper, with strategists highlighting cases weekly. Since February 27, they have promoted "Roy Cooper's Felon Friday," and since April 22, "Roy Cooper's Worst of the Worst Wednesday."
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley held a news conference in Harrisburg on Friday, pledging to make public safety his focus if elected in November. Whatley was joined by Republican sheriffs and state lawmakers at The Gathering on Main, where he said his campaign is focused on supporting law enforcement and keeping children safe in North Carolina. He also criticized his opponent, Democrat Roy Cooper, accusing him of pursuing policies that are too soft on crime. "He's appointed magistrates and judges who man that revolving door and keep it rolling," Whatley said. "And of course, he released 4,200 criminals. 4,200 criminals." A Cooper campaign spokesperson pushed back in a statement: “While Roy spent his career putting rapists and violent criminals behind bars and signing tough on crime and stricter bail and pretrial release laws as governor, Michael Whatley spent his appointing a convicted child sex predator who served time in jail to a powerful position within the North Carolina Republican Party and pushing to release prisoners during the pandemic.” During Whatley’s speech, he showed the crowd photos of convicted criminals, including DeCarlos Brown, who was convicted in the murder of Iryna Zarutka on the Blue Line light rail last August, to emphasize his concerns about crime in North Carolina. Whatley noted supporting local law enforcement goes hand in hand with strengthening border security. "And it also goes back to the border. You know, I went down to the border three times in 2024 during the campaign. I went back last year, and what we have seen from Customs and Border Protection, the steps that they've taken to secure our border, fentanyl deaths are down dramatically in North Carolina." Whatley also highlighted endorsements from the North Carolina Troopers Association and the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association. A new Public Policy Polling survey this week found Cooper leading Whatley by four percentage points, 48% to 44%.
While this event occurred in North Carolina, it serves as a cautionary tale for California, which has faced similar debates over prisoner releases and public safety. California's own early release programs, such as those under Proposition 57, have drawn scrutiny over recidivism rates and community impact.
The settlement in NAACP v. Roy Cooper was reached in February 2021, requiring the release of inmates with projected release dates in 2021, including those on home or work release. The state initially withheld names, but journalist Stephen Horn later published a database. The releases have become a key issue in the 2026 election.
The release of over 4,200 prisoners under Cooper's administration has led to significant recidivism, with many reoffending violently. As the 2026 Senate race heats up, this issue underscores the delicate balance between criminal justice reform and public safety.
