08/04/2026
BREAKING NEWS
Robbinsville mayor arrested
Randy Foster
Paxton Media
ROBBINSVILLE – Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams was arrested on Monday and faces multiple drug-related felony charges.
Adams is being detained at the Graham County Jail under a $100,000 secured bond. His next court date is set for Aug. 10. He was initially held without bond, according to court documents.
A Graham County Sheriff's Office deputy conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle cross the center line. During the investigation, the passenger, Shaun Larry Adams, 46, of Robbinsville, was found to be in possession of a concealed firearm, co***ne, and drug paraphernalia. Adams was charged with:
· Misdemeanor Carrying a Concealed Firearm
· Felony Possession of Co***ne
· Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
The driver, Tanya Dawn Everett, 46, of Maryville, Tenn., was arrested on an outstanding warrant. She was also issued a citation for Driving While License Revoked (DWLR) and received a warning for driving left of center.
As a result of the investigation, deputies obtained and executed a search warrant at Adams' Robbinsville residence on Lon Brown Road. During the search, investigators located additional illegal narcotics.
Adams was subsequently charged with:
· Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (42.1 grams of methamphetamine)
· Felony Possession of Methamphetamine
· Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance
· Felony Trafficking in Methamphetamine
· Two counts of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle, Dwelling, or Place for Controlled Substances
The Graham County Sheriff's Office remains committed to aggressively investigating illegal narcotics activity and holding those who traffic dangerous drugs accountable, according to a news release.
"No one is above the law," Sheriff Russell W. Moody said. "It does not matter who you are or what position you hold, if there is probable cause that a crime has been committed, the Graham County Sheriff's Office will investigate and take the appropriate enforcement action. We remain committed to enforcing the law fairly, impartially, and equally for everyone."
Just after midnight on July 4, Adams was stopped and cited for having an un-illuminated license plate on his car, an infraction. He was also charged with failing to show his driver's license, a misdemeanor if convicted. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
On May 18, he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of holding a fictitious or altered title, registration card or tag. A disposition for that case is also scheduled for Friday.
Town Attorney Amy Merrill said the town's Board of Aldermen would probably discuss the situation at its regular meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
"The options the board has are limited, especially in the immediate," she said.
Noting Adams' recent unusual behavior, the board removed him from handling day-to-day operations and from his position as budget officer.
His stormy time as mayor followed a period as alderman when he simply stopped attending meetings. He beat the incumbent mayor and presided over a first term with turmoil (a stormy exit by a former finance officer and a falling out with his own board) and achievement (a long empty industrial site – one of the largest in the region – was to reopen and hire hundreds). Adams went on to win a second term.
Pick up a copy of this week’s Graham Star to read updates as we follow this developing story.
