Richmond County man accidentally misgendered by justice system

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ROCKINGHAM — Until Dec. 19, Casey James Braddock was a female according to the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.

But that wasn’t accurate.

What started as a possible typo wound up making it all the way through the judicial system without being caught and corrected along the way.

The RO discovered the discrepancy while writing about Braddock’s current criminal charges. Click here to read that story.

Online court records show that Braddock was convicted on Nov. 18 as a female for the crime of assault on a female.

Screenshot from N.C. Department of Adult Correction prior to correction.

The charge of assault on a female, according to North Carolina General Statute 14-33(c)(2), indicates that the person charged must be a male at least 18 years old — unlike the relatively new law of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which allows for the same charge by any individual in a relationship, regardless of gender.

It all started on Nov. 10 when a complaint was filed with the Richmond County magistrate’s office, accusing Braddock of assault.

Magistrate Melanie J. Carroll signed the warrant charging Braddock with one count each of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, assault on a female and assault by pointing a gun.

Another alleged victim at the same address also accused Braddock of pointing a gun at her, leading to a separate charge of assault by pointing a gun. That warrant was also signed by Carroll.

However, on both warrants — which did not include the defendant’s middle name — Braddock’s sex is marked with an “F” instead of an “M.”

Screenshot of warrant.

All other court documents, including Braddock’s current charges and prior charges that were dismissed, list him as a male. Jail records also show Braddock as a male.

Carroll told the RO on Dec. 12 that she did not specifically remember the warrant, but explained that it could have been a simple typo or a mis-click on a dropdown box. She also said that, with the new system, sometimes the incorrect options populate once clicked.

Braddock, of Hamlet, was arrested Nov. 11 by the Rockingham Police Department, according to the service return section of the warrant.

The initial release order shows Braddock was placed on a 48-hour domestic violence hold without bond.

Chief Deputy Jay Childers with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told the RO that defendants are held in the jail based on their biological sex, not what they may identify as.

Although there is no indication that Braddock ever identified as a female, there was a case earlier in the year of a biological male who identifies as a female, according to investigators.

Screenshot of court records.

The defendant in that case, Louie Armond Talley, is listed in court documents as a male — including a Dec. 7 charge of malicious conduct by a prisoner for allegedly exposing genitals to a detention officer in October. Although that case still shows as pending, court records indicate the warrant was recalled and the charge does not appear in jail records.

Documents show Braddock’s bond was modified to $7,500 secured on Nov. 12. Braddock was also ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, to comply with any domestic violence protective order, and not possess any firearms.

Also on Nov. 12, Todd Scott was appointed by the court to represent Braddock.

Scott told the RO on Dec. 12 that he did not catch the mistake and was more focused on the charges.

The mistake was also missed by the offices of the Clerk of Superior Court and District Attorney, as well as the presiding judge.

“We’re all human in this whole process,” said District Attorney Jamie Adams, who was sworn in in October. “I wish I could say the system is 100 percent flawless. We try to do the best that we can with the resources we have.”

Screenshot of online court records.

One reason it may have been overlooked, according to Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel, is that the local justice system was still in the process of learning the new Odyssey eCourts system.

Even if the mistake had been caught in the clerk’s office, there really isn’t anything that can be done at that level.

The clerks are record keepers and can’t make corrections to any documents, Daniel said, adding that it isn’t their place to say anything. That responsibility would fall on the DA’s office, defense attorney or even the defendant.

Presiding Judge Amanda Wilson said that during court, the judge doesn’t see demographic information.

Daniel said that any corrections would have to be motioned before a judge and then, if ordered, would have to be sent to Raleigh to be amended.

“We might occasionally have things that slip by us,” said Adams. “But it (the record) needs to be accurate.”

The N.C. Department of Adult Correction was made aware of the error on Dec. 16 and had it amended by Dec. 19. However, court records were not yet updated.

As of Dec. 19, Braddock was still being held on a $500,000 secured bond. All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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