Court dates set in Scoggins’ murder case

By Loretta Cozart

Timothy Parson, charged with the homicide of his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Scoggins on January 17, has had his court date set for Thursday, February 9 in Cleveland County. Parson’s first appearance in court was last week, before Judge Justin Brackett.

Crying in the courtroom, Parson heard his charges, “You have been charged with a class A one misdemeanor and a class A felony carrying a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty,” according to Judge Brackett. The judge mirandized Parson and told him that David Teddy is his court appointed attorney.

The judge set no bond in the first-degree murder charge, and Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sheriff shared information further with the judge of “prior crimes of violence, numerous assaults on female that have been dismissed.” A secured bond of $50,000 set for the charge of assault on a female.

Tracy Marie Hartis, 42, a passenger in the car at the time of Parson’s arrest also went before the judge on a felony obstruction of justice charge. In a video first appearance, Hartis asked for a court appointed attorney.

According to Assistant DA Sheriff, Hartis “ provided false information to law enforcement officers in Kings Mountain and the

US Marshall Service during the course of the investigation and murder of Ashley Scoggins. That act immediately obstructed, impeded, and hindered their duties. She gave false information with respect to the timing and nature of travel after the murder of Ashley Scoggins and told investigators she had not been in contact with the murder suspect, Mr. Parsons.”

Hartis was given a secured bond of $75,000. Her next court date is February 9.