N.C. Rep. Cody Henson, who represents District 113, was served with a 50B Ex Parte Domestic Violence Order of Protection on Jan. 31, according to court documents.

The order, signed by District Court Judge Mack Brittain on Jan. 30, concludes that Henson, the defendant, “has committed acts of domestic violence against the plaintiff,” Kelsey Henson (his spouse), and “committed acts of domestic violence against the minor child(ren) residing with or in the custody of the plaintiff.”

The order states that the defendant “shall not assault, threaten, abuse, follow, harass (by telephone, visiting the home or workplace or other means) or interfere with the plaintiff,” and that the defendant “shall not threaten a member of the plaintiff’s family or household.” The order states that the defendant must not be in “any place within 100 feet of the plaintiff.”

The court document concludes that the plaintiff has been subjected to levels of harassment that rises to such a level as to inflict substantial emotional distress, placed her in ongoing fear for her own safety and that of her children, and that the defendant has sent “ongoing text messages after being forbidden.”

Terms of the order remained effective until Feb. 5, when both parties appeared in Civil Court Tuesday morning. Judge Mack McKeller recused himself from hearing the case and continued it until Feb. 19, when it will be heard in front of Judge Fritz Mercer, an out-of-county judge. The order remains in effect until Feb. 19. Court documents state that Kelsey Henson wishes for the court to order the defendant to: not have any contact with the plaintiff, to prohibit the defendant from purchasing or possessing a firearm, to order the defendant to surrender to the sheriff his firearms, ammunition and gun permits to purchase a firearm and carry and concealed weapon, and to be ordered to attend an abuser treatment program.

According to Kelsey Henson in a telephone interview, she received assistance filing for the restraining order from SAFE, the nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community free of domestic and sexual abuse.

When reached for comment via email, Rep. Henson said, “This is a family matter, and while I will refute many of the allegations, I look forward to resolving it amicably through the legal process to do what is in the best interest of our children and put these difficult times behind us.”

Contentious Voice Mail Left On Reporter’s Telephone

Editor’s Note: The following is transcribed from a voice mail on Park Baker’s telephone Monday, left by a woman who did not leave her name: “I would advise you not to put anything on your little Facebook page or in that Transylvania Times because of (Mrs.) Henson’s ability to lie and to lie deeply, and that her former husband has had his children in his possession most of the whole month of January and continues to see them.

“This is an attempt to do some harm. You better not be involved with it. If anything happens to him, anything you’re trying to dig up and causes him any type of mental stress, and causes him discomfort or anything, you’ll be held personally responsible for it. I wouldn’t dare put anything in The Transylvania Times that was not a complete and true story, not an allegation, and if you have an issue with that, I would talk to Cody’s true constituents. Thank you.”