Attorney General Jeff Jackson Upholds Criminal Convictions in Hit-and-Run, Murder, and Attempted Murder Cases Across North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809

RALEIGH — Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the North Carolina Department of Justice upheld criminal convictions in 10 Court of Appeals opinions released in September, including a hit-and-run case out of Guilford County, an attempted murder case out of Randolph County, and a first-degree murder case out of Pasquotank County.

The convictions were originally argued and obtained in trial courts by district attorneys. The North Carolina Department of Justice is responsible for defending criminal convictions obtained by local district attorneys when they are heard in the state’s appellate courts.

“Each of these cases involves someone who was convicted of a serious, violent crime trying to have that conviction overturned,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “My job as attorney general is upholding justice and keeping the people of North Carolina safe. That means ensuring lawful convictions like this stay in place and keeping dangerous defendants off our streets.”

In State v. Hilton, the Court of Appeals upheld Patricia Saunders Hilton’s conviction of felony hit and run resulting in serious bodily injury. The case was originally tried by the office of Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump. On Oct. 29, 2022, Hilton finished a shift at the Woods of Terror, a Halloween attraction in Greensboro, and drove to a Cook Out restaurant in her costume. This “drew the attention” of a group of teenagers, who pointed at her and called her names. Hilton left but later drove back toward the crowd and hit an 18-year-old. She did not brake or slow down, and the victim testified that she was “looking right at him.” The victim’s injuries required multiple surgeries, and he could not walk without help for months.

In State v. Stuart, the Court of Appeals upheld Zackary Eugene Stuart’s conviction of attempted murder, two counts of breaking and/or entering, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, larceny after breaking and entering, obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy to commit murder, and felony conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. The case was originally tried by the office of Randolph County District Attorney Andy Gregson. A detective found the victim semi-conscious and injured in his home. The victim did not remember being attacked. His missing debit card was used at a Hardee’s and other businesses, and his car was spotted in High Point. During a second break in at the victim’s home, the car was returned. Inside was a memo pad labeled “Zack’s Workbook” and receipts matching the debit card purchases. Stuart and another person were arrested, and the car’s key fob was found in Stuart’s pocket.

In State v. Spencer, the Court of Appeals upheld Lesselle Cornelius Spencer’s conviction of first-degree murder. The case was originally tried by the office of Pasquotank County District Attorney Jeff Cruden. In April 2022, Big Lots fired Spencer’s girlfriend. As a Big Lots employee was leaving work that night, his wife was waiting in the car for him and saw someone chasing him around the parking lot. She heard a bang, called 911, and found her husband lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. The assailant was gone. EMS later pronounced the victim dead. Security footage led law enforcement to Spencer, and he was arrested. While incarcerated, he told another inmate that he was upset his girlfriend was fired and that he shot someone.

You can read more about other criminal convictions the Department of Justice has successfully defended here.

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