Home Local News Maples accuses Roberts of ’embarrassing blunder’

Maples accuses Roberts of ’embarrassing blunder’

Commissioners Robin Roberts, left, and Toni Maples dance together during the Shagging for Our Soldiers event Jan. 27 at VFW Post 4203. RO file photo

ROCKINGHAM — One Richmond County commissioner is accusing another of actions “unbecoming of an elected official.”

On Tuesday, Commissioner Toni Maples issued a statement on Facebook condemning the actions of fellow Commissioner Robin Roberts. The statement was also sent to the RO via email.

Maples said that she had gone out to dinner with Roberts for Roberts’ birthday on Saturday — but it was actually Friday, Jan. 26 — “and she chose to celebrate the occasion by having some drinks.”

(Note: The alleged incident took place early Saturday morning.)

“As such, I took it upon myself to look after her and make sure she made it home safely,” Maples said. “Unfortunately, as we were on our way out of the parking lot, Commissioner Roberts had a lapse in judgement and made an embarrassing blunder.”

Maples does not specify the alleged blunder and says she regrets not coming forward sooner.

“I would like to apologize to our fellow patrons, the property owner, and the people of Richmond County,” Maples concluded. “Commissioner Roberts’ actions were unbecoming of an elected official, and I condemn this behavior in the strongest terms.”

Roberts issued her own statement around noon Tuesday, claiming she was “just having fun on my birthday joking.”

“I have had a long going joke with one of my friends who was at this other establishment,” Roberts said. “When I left I told my friend I was gonna mess with his motorcycle, as it’s been a long going joke between us for 3 years.”

Roberts says she walked over to the motorcycle but “never touched it defaced it or hurt it.”

“In my defense I was only joking with my friend and did nothing wrong. I was having fun on my birthday and just joking with my friend.”

Roberts went on to say that she has apologized to the owner of the establishment “and the friend who I was joking with, even though I didn’t harm anyone.”

“It’s been said I had a lapse in judgment and I’m not calling names of the friends who were with me , because it was between me and my friend I’ve been joking with,” Roberts continued. “To my fellow friends followers and supporters of RCO I am sorry if this long going joke between friends has hurt anyone.

“Everyone with me that night was having fun and I hate something between two friends has come to a huge misunderstanding,” Roberts concluded. “That was the first time I’ve been out in over a year !!! It will be another year before I go back out !!! WOW !!!!!!!!!!”
Within the first hour it was up, Roberts added the following to her post:

“I am grown and didn’t need to be taking care of.

“I didn’t even want to go anywhere else , but thought since it was my birthday I would venture out with friends .”

Both posts were taken down before 3:15 p.m.

Maples’ husband, Chris Maples, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives, later posted his own statement — and included what appears to be security video “…of us trying to take care of her” from the incident.

Chris Maples said he was posting the video in the interest of “transparency.”

“Last Friday, my wife Commissioner Toni Maples and I sought to be good Samaritan’s by giving a ride to one of her fellow county commissioners who was intoxicated,” Chris Maples said. “That Commissioner embarrassed our good name and reputation by exiting the vehicle and desecrating someone’s private property.”

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The video appears to show a small white SUV pull up near a motorcycle in the parking lot. A woman appearing to be Roberts steps out, walks over to the motorcycle, then back to the vehicle.

A screenshot of security video appears to show Commissioners Robin Roberts and Toni Maples near a motorcycle. Screenshot of video posted on Facebook by Chris Maples for Congress

Another person, who appears to be Toni Maples, gets out of the vehicle and they both walk back to the motorcycle.

Toni Maples stands on one side as Roberts appears to squat down for several seconds — as a man parked next to the motorcycle gets in his car. Roberts then stands back up and appears to pull up the waistband of what she was wearing.

Roberts and Maples then get back into the SUV and the video stops as the SUV appears to start pulling away.

“I hope this puts to rest any of the nasty rumors which our opponents are seeking to spread,” Chris Maples said.

At 4:44 p.m., Toni Maples sent an email to the RO saying: “Squash this. DO NOT POST ANYTHING.”

Toni Maples and Roberts are both Republicans on the Richmond County Board of Commissioners; Maples was elected in 2020 and Roberts was elected in 2022.

When reached for comment, County Manager Bryan Land told the RO, “The County has no comment on these private matters.”

NOTE: This story has been modified to include a parenthetical on when the alleged incident took place. 5:44 p.m. 1-30-24



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Managing Editor William R. Toler is an award-winning writer and photographer with experience in print, television and online media.