Man and woman charged with leading police on two-county chase appear in court
A man and a woman who law enforcement say were involved in a two-county police chase Wednesday made their first court appearances Friday morning.
Jeremy Aaron Huffman, 30, and Jennifer Lynn Hughes, 26, both appeared via video call at the Cleveland County courthouse.
Huffman, who allegedly fled Lincoln County Deputies after they said they attempted to stop him in a stolen car, led law enforcement on a chase from Lincoln County and into Cleveland County Wednesday afternoon. According to a news release from the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, Huffman fired shots at deputies during the chase and even shot at a school bus with children on board on N.C. 226. The release said deputies used stop sticks in an attempt to stop the car, however the driver continued.
"The chase ended when the suspect wrecked by running into an embankment at the intersection of Highway 74 and NC 226 (Polkville Rd). The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Jeremy Aaron Huffman, got out of the car and ran into the woods as he shot at officers. A passenger, Jennifer Lynn Hughes was secured on the scene, by officers," the release said.
Hughes, of Olde School Drive in Hickory, was charged with felony obstructing justice after she told law enforcement officers her name was Kelly Brooke Powell and that the driver of the stolen car was Cory Brown, according to warrants from the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor larceny, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, injury to real property and obstructing justice, according to the Cleveland County Detention Center. She is being held on a $53,500 bond.
Huffman, who was captured by law enforcement around 8 a.m. Thursday near the Day's Inn on U.S. 74, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault inflicting serious injury, conspiring to commit armed robbery and larceny of a motor vehicle, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.
Hughes, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with hands shackled, was the first to appear in court.
Judge Micah Sanderson told Hughes that felony obstruction of justice has a maximum sentence of 39 months, if she is convicted. She chose to be represented by a court appointed attorney.
Huffman also chose a court appointed attorney, but he was not given a bond. Sanderson told him that if convicted of the attempted murder charge, he could face up to 33 years in prison.
Kevin Sherriff, assistant district attorney, said Huffman has charges out of Georgia as well.
He is scheduled to next appear in court in July.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Couple charged with leading police on two-county chase appear in court
