Judge favored wife in Tuesday hearing over Rep. Cody Henson 

 

BREVARD—A judge ruled Tuesday in favor of a North Carolina Legislator’s wife and issued a domestic violence protection order against him.  

Judge Fritz Mercer issued the order against North Carolina Rep. Cody Henson (R), who represents the North Carolina House of Representative’s 113th District, which includes Polk, Transylvania and part of Henderson counties. Henson won his second term last November.  

The civil court hearing on Tuesday was held at the Transylvania Courthouse in Brevard, where Henson lives.  

Henson’s wife Kelsey petitioned earlier this year that her husband was repeatedly texting her outside the hours they agreed they would to communicate about their children. Henson was served with a 50B Ex Parte Domestic Violence Order of Protection at the end of January.  

The order of protection requires that Henson refrain from domestic violence. Henson is now being investigated for cyber stalking by the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, but has not been charged.  

Kelsey Henson claimed that she has been subjected to levels of harassment to such a level as to inflict substantial emotional distress, with her placed in an ongoing fear for her safety and that of her children. She has reportedly made three calls to 911 about her husband over the last year. She has also said the abuse was not physical.  

North Carolina statutes define electronic communications become the crime of cyberstalking when done repeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of abusing, threatening, terrifying, harassing or embarrassing any person. Cyberstalking is a class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina.  

In Tuesday’s court hearing, Judge Mercer had the option of requiring Henson to turn in any firearms while the order is in effect, but the judge did not give that order.