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United States of America v. William Stanley and Heather Morrow
Date: 09-10-2026
Case Number: 3:25-mj-00320
Judge: Matthew E. Orso
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Mecklenburg County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Caryn Deborah Finley and Kenneth M. Smith
Defendant's Attorney: Claire Rauscher and James Cooney
Description:
Charlotte, North Carolina criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendants charged with assaulting, reisting, opposing, imeding, intimidating and interfering with persons performing official duties in violation of 18 111.
Reported by: Kent Morlan
On November 16, 2025, Heather Morrow, age 35, and William Stanley, age 25,, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building’s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow’s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property.
Stanley and Morrow’s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer’s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer’s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault.
Reported by: Kent Morlan
On November 16, 2025, Heather Morrow, age 35, and William Stanley, age 25,, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building’s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow’s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property.
Stanley and Morrow’s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer’s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer’s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault.
Outcome:
the Defendants were found guilt.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. William Stanley and Heather M...?
The outcome was: the Defendants were found guilt.
Which court heard United States of America v. William Stanley and Heather M...?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Mecklenburg County), NC. The presiding judge was Matthew E. Orso.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. William Stanley and Heather M...?
Plaintiff's attorney: Caryn Deborah Finley and Kenneth M. Smith. Defendant's attorney: Claire Rauscher and James Cooney.
When was United States of America v. William Stanley and Heather M... decided?
This case was decided on September 10, 2026.