Fmr. deputy back in court after assault near Carteret County archaeological site

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A former Onslow County deputy is back in court this morning for an assault at a Carteret County Native American archaeological site last summer.

The True Healing Under God national civil rights group and Indigenous community members are planning to gather at the Carteret County courthouse at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. ahead of James De La O Jr.’s hearing.

In 2024, former Onslow County deputy James De La O Jr. was charged with communicating threats, assaulting a woman, and false police report during a dispute at the Native American archaeological discovery at the Bridge View neighborhood in Cedar Point.

An arrest warrant obtained by WITN at the time revealed that De La O, a resident of Bridge View, assaulted a woman by body slamming her to the ground and verbally threatening two people after the woman and others were present to pay respect to the archeological site.

There will be a second demonstration, prayer and press conference that will begin before the victims enter the courtroom.

According to civil rights activist John Barnett, the group will be court-patrolling outside the courthouse to encourage the courts to punish the accused to the fullest.

The victims, family members and several supporters will be at today’s press conference.

The case against De La O Jr. was postponed by the judge after a hearing back in March revealed additional evidence in a related case involving a 17-year-old.