On Friday, September 5, 2025, Emancipate NC Attorney Dillon Sharpe secured a full acquittal for his client, Mr. Hannon, who had been wrongfully charged after a violent encounter with Wake County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Mr. Hannon was assaulted by deputies after being held in contempt during a child custody case. Instead of receiving protection, he was charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer causing injury and misdemeanor damage to personal property. For months, he steadfastly maintained his innocence and tried to advocate for himself, cycling through multiple public defenders. Ultimately, the court even stripped him of his right to appointed counsel, forcing him to represent himself.
At the end of his rope, Mr. Hannon turned to Emancipate NC. On Monday of trial week, he asked Dillon Sharpe to take his case. Though Dillon immediately requested a continuance to prepare, the judge denied the motion. That same afternoon—the very first day on the case—Sharpe began jury selection. By Friday, after a week-long trial, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts.
This case demonstrates the importance of trust between attorney and client. Mr. Hannon believed that Emancipate NC was truly on his side. That trust gave Attorney Sharpe the ability to fight boldly—rejecting a plea deal that would have set his client up for failure and instead winning his freedom outright.
It was a gamble—but one that paid off. Justice prevailed.