Trafficking Plea Nets Sentence Of 7-10 Years For Newton Man
Spencer Shawn Kain, 28, of Newton, was sentenced to serve seven to 10 years in prison following his conviction for trafficking fentanyl during Catawba County Superior Court on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The Honorable Sherri W. Elliott, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed terms of the active sentence after Kain entered a guilty plea, along with a mandatory fine of $750,000.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about Kain’s activities from a person who was given drugs by the defendant that initiated an investigation with active surveillance.
On March 10, 2025, they followed Kain and a co-defendant to Charlotte and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for a fictitious tag. Drug paraphernalia was seen in plain view inside the vehicle, and a search was done. During the search, fentanyl and assorted pills were found and seized.
The substances were sent to the State Crime Lab for testing and were determined to be a trafficking amount of fentanyl.
The co-defendant’s case is still pending. He is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ethan Fox handled the investigation for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Taylor Rockett prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Britnee Ulsamer.
Habitual Felon Status Lengthens Prison Term For Hickory Man
Rodney Oneal Lavan, 59, of Hickory, was sentenced to serve five to eight years in prison following his conviction for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and admission of habitual felon status.
The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed terms of the active sentence after Lavan entered a guilty plea during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
His sentence length was enhanced by prior felony convictions in Catawba County for possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine (June 1994), selling cocaine (May 2000) and habitual larceny (July 2020).
A traffic stop on April 15, 2025, led to the discovery and seizure of illegal substances from the defendant and his vehicle.
When the deputy approached the vehicle, he saw a smoking pipe in plain view, and Lavan said he had drugs on him when asked. Once out of the vehicle, the defendant began stomping the ground in an attempt to destroy additional narcotics. Some of the powdery substance was seized, and additional substances were found in various locations of the vehicle.
Testing at the State Crime lab confirmed the substances to be fentanyl and cocaine.
Deputy Kyle Honeycutt handled the investigation for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Taylor Rockett prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Britnee Ulsamer.