Asheville News

Rodney Hasty follow-up: Who’s new assistant district attorney in Buncombe County?

Jason Sandford February 1, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

A couple of weeks ago, former Buncombe County Assistant District Attorney Rodney Hasty was arrested and charged with DWI following a wreck on Hwy. 19/23. Hasty promptly resigned.

Follow-up questions: What is the status of Hasty’s case? Any indication of the nature of Hasty’s alleged impairment? Who has been appointed to fill Hasty’s slot in the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office?

And then there was this comment, that I have yet to see any take and run with:

Assistant DA Hasty has been in charge of a case involving a 2nd degree murder in Buncombe County which has never come to trial. In May 2006, Ray White of North Buncombe School Road in Weaverville was charged with killing his wife. He was arrested on May 11, 2006 with a charge of manslaughter and later the Grand Jury indicted him on 2nd murder. He beat his wife to death (by all reports) by hitting her in the face with a furniture clamp until she was unrecognizable. He was allowed to sell his home and MOVE back to the Tampa area of Florida, where he was originally from. The case has not been tried and to my knowledge, no hearings have been held to establish a trial date. Should he be considered not able to stand trial? I thought that a person had to answer the charges at least through an attorney and let a judge decide if the person needed medical/mental examinations to determine if they could stand trial. So this is coming up on three years and justice for the woman’s murder has not been served.

Sounds like a story to me.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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3 Comments

James L. (Larry) Smith August 8, 2015

I want to commend the new DA, Todd Williams, for giving Rodney Hasty another chance. That was brave of him, and I hope Mr. Hasty does well and is, unlike a few of the jerks who appeared with him in the group photo at the DA’s website, honest and ethical.

BTW, I remember lots of prosecutors who had alcohol problems. I started the practice of law in Asheville in 1973, so I remember a bunch of them. And some before, going back into the sixties, when court was held where the police department now sits. There was a DA I remember as Will Hampton who staggered in the courtroom, he was so drunk. I was a kid watching. I am 70 now.

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Matt Howard February 2, 2009

It amazes me with all the things people constantly get up in arms about in this town, more people arent outraged at how easy it is to get away with murder.

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Will February 2, 2009

hmm.. sounds like another great DA faux pas

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