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Man pleads guilty to felony charges in Barnardsville shooting

Man pleads guilty to felony charges in Barnardsville shooting

James Robert Wyerman has been sentenced to prison and probation after pleading guilty in connection with a shooting that targeted a Buncombe County home last year. Photo: Contributed/Buncombe County Sheriff's Office


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A man has been sentenced to prison and probation after pleading guilty in a shooting that targeted a Barnardsville home last year, authorities said.

Buncombe County sheriff’s deputies were called Feb. 6, 2025, to a report of a shooting at a residence on Poverty Branch Road. Investigators found the home had been struck by gunfire multiple times, though no injuries were reported.

Following an investigation by patrol deputies, the sheriff’s office crime scene unit, K-9 handlers and detectives, James Robert Wyerman was arrested on multiple charges related to the incident.

Wyerman pleaded guilty Jan. 22, 2026, to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, six counts of discharging a firearm into occupied property and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

He was sentenced to 18 to 34 months in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and an additional 24 months of supervised probation.

District 2 Capt. Chris Stockton said deputies were able to apprehend the suspect within two hours of the shooting and credited the coordinated response for building a strong case.

“We are thankful that no one was injured during this violent incident,” Stockton said. “Our K-9 Unit, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and etectives conducted a thorough investigation that built a solid case for prosecution. I am proud of the quality of teamwork carried out by BCSO personnel during this incident. That work represents their dedication to accountability for violent offenders in Buncombe County.”

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