news-record.com

YANCEYVILLE (AP) - Former state Sen. Hugh Webster was indicted on two felony charges of embezzlement and exploitation of an elder adult, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Roy Cooper said Friday.

The indictments filed in Caswell County say Webster, 65, of Burlington, was entrusted by his 80-year-old aunt to manage her financial affairs, but that the accountant converted her funds to his own use in April 2007. A grand jury indicted Webster and an arrest warrant was issued Thursday.

A court date was scheduled for Dec. 9.

Webster, who lost his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Brad Miller in the Nov. 4 election, said he plans to hold a news conference Monday before turning himself in to the Caswell County Sheriff's Office. He blamed the charges on political enemies, but he declined to discuss details of the case with The Associated Press.

"I was the one person in the North Carolina legislature who would stand up and tell the truth. I was not ever afraid of it," he said. "They just want to bury me deep enough so that I never see the political light again."

Webster's aunt withdrew $12,115 from her individual retirement account and gave it to him in April 2007 because Webster said he could get higher interest at his Raleigh credit union, according to an affidavit in support of a search warrant signed by a financial crimes agent at the State Bureau of Investigation.

"She never received any interest or bank statements" after the IRA check was deposited, the affidavit said.

Webster contended the money was a gift from his aunt, which the aunt denied, the affidavit said.

The Caswell County district attorney's office declined comment. An assistant district attorney who declined to give his name said District Attorney Joel Brewer wasn't available and he couldn't discuss whether an indictment had been prepared.

Webster, a Republican, served in the state Senate from 1995 to 2006, when he lost to Democrat Tony Foriest by 460 votes. Webster lost his bid during last week's election to unseat Miller, a Democrat who represents North Carolina's 13th Congressional District.