Sen. R.C. Soles Ducks Questions from WWAY

Arson suspected in Tabor City fire; Victim has ties to State Senator

By Jolene Reilly

WWAY

A Columbus County 17-year-old is recovering, after escaping from his burning house overnight. Fire investigators say it looks like arson.

The victim, Allen Strickland, has been in the news before. He’s a law client of State Senator RC Soles, and the two have a rocky relationship that’s required police intervention on more than one occasion.

Allen Strickland’s brand new home in Tabor City has been reduced to a burnt-out frame.
Strickland says the home was paid for by Senator Soles. …

“This whole town is jealous of how I got that house, how I got my car, how I get money and all, and everybody just can’t stand it,” Strickland said.

When asked if thinks someone was trying to kill him, he replied, “Yeah, somebody is trying to hurt me. Whoever did it, they did it with the intention of me getting killed”

Allen says Senator RC Soles paid for his house, his car, and gives him a regular allowance as part of an arrangement they have if Allen agrees to finish school.

Allen doesn’t have a job, and his parents aren’t active in his life, so the money to buy these things obviously has to come from somewhere. But he says all the transactions between he and the senator have been in cash.

WWAY has been calling RC Soles for weeks to ask the Senator for details. Soles has yet to return our calls. On Tuesday, morning anchor Kevin Wuzzardo asked the Senator about the alleged gifts during an unrelated interview. This is what happened:

Kevin: “On another matter, a young man named Allen Strickland told us that you’ve given him tens of thousands of dollars to pay for his house and his car, as part of an arrangement that if he finishes school, you’ll buy him these things. Have you given him that money?:

Soles: “I cannot hear you.”

Kevin: (Louder) “A young man named Allen Strickland told us that you’ve given him tens of thousands of dollars to pay for his house and his car.”

Soles: “I cannot hear you, speak up.”

Kevin: (Louder) “A young man named Allen Strickland – ”

Soles: “Speak up.”

Kevin: “Do you hear me, Senator?”

The phone then went dead.

The senator knew he was being recorded, and he had not had any problems hearing the previous nine minutes of an interview about the budget. When we tried to call him back after the line went dead, he was no longer available. …

Click here for the full article from WWAY…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYB8I2-HHbM[/youtube]

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