A Sampson County magistrate who placed a $2,500 bond against a man for assaulting a local pastor with a knife is speaking out about the pastor’s version of the story.

The pastor, Willie James Jr., was assaulted during a Family and Friends Day celebration at his church Sunday. The assault left him with a 15-inch long and four-inch deep gash that required 20 stitches,

“That story made me look like the worst magistrate in the state,” said Magistrate J.B. Dixon Thursday. It should be noted that calls attempting to reach Dixon Wednesday (before the article ran) were unsuccessful. Those attempts included two visits to the magistrate’s office Wednesday morning.

Dixon said that while he understands how James, of the St. James Disciples of Christ Church, located on 2385 Delway Highway, Harrells, feels, he is not the one to blame.

James was attacked Saturday afternoon by 25-year-old Henry Carr Jr., a former boyfriend of his daughter.

According to reports from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Carr slashed the tires of his former beau’s vehicle which sat in the parking lot of the church. When James went out to confront Carr, the suspect reportedly attacked him with the knife.

James was sent to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington and Carr was pulled out of a wooded area near the church and arrested.

Carr was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and given a $2,500 bond by Dixon. He posted the bond within hours of his arrest.

However, Dixon said that the bond was appropriate for the charge.

“To be honest, I felt that the bond was excessive for what he was charged for,” Dixon explained. “The detective charged him, I don’t. He was charged with a Class A1 Misdemeanor — I talked with Mr. Carr and it seemed to me like it was a lover’s spat. A $2,500 bond for the charge, I felt, is excessive.”

In addition, Dixon produced a release order for Carr that set specific conditions in connection with his release.

“It says: Do not contact, directly or indirectly, assault, harass, threaten or be in the presence of Willie D. James, Jr (or his daughter) ... prior to court,” Dixon said.

If Carr had been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict serious injury that would have made the bond higher, said Dixon.

“He wasn’t. An assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict serious injury is a Class E Felony — the bond would have been significantly higher automatically. But that is not what the detective charged him with. I don’t think people understand how it all works, and while the story looked like I was in the wrong, it is actually the initial charge. When this man is brought in on a charge, I have to see that he is treated fairly ... and all I did was set his bond for the charge.”

According to that detective, C. Godwin, the charge was assault with a deadly weapon only because when he called New Hanover Regional Medical Center he was told by medical personnel that James had suffered, “only superficial lacerations.”

“They did not indicate that there were any life-threatening injuries to him — there was nothing to indicate that,” Godwin said.

According to an official at the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, who asked not to be identified, the charge of assault with a deadly weapon was handed down because it could be proved in court. That same officials said that the bonds set by the magistrate can be set as high or as low as a magistrate deems fit, no matter the charge.

Dixon said Thursday there were other charges that can have been brought against Carr, but were not.

“Mr. James came in and asked if there was anything else that he could charge him with, I answered all of his questions, everything he asked me,” said Dixon. “He could not do anything else to get the bond raised; but his daughter could have. She could have given Carr an injury to personal property for her tires he slashed. But she didn’t.”

James also complained about how Dixon treated him that night.

“I mean, he (Dixon) was laughing and joking just before with the other guy,” said James Tuesday. “I was waiting there for at least 30 minutes and he saw me. When the other guy left and I went in, his whole attitude changed. He acted like he didn’t care. I am not asking to be padded up or anything, but I feel like I am a taxpayer and I deserve to be treated and respected just like everybody else. It felt like a smack in the face.”

Not so, says Dixon.

“He did not wait over 30 minutes, I can tell you that he never sat there that long,” he said. “And I wasn’t rude to him. Like I said, I answered everything he asked of me. Now, while he may have thought that we were joking around and laughing, I can assure you that the man that was in front of Mr. James thought that his business was just as important.”

When contacted Thursday, James said that he had already filed his complaint against Dixon.

“I filed it through Judge (E) Thaggard earlier today,” James said. “ They told me that he would get it as soon as possible.”

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.