Sen. Soles uses shoe to fend off ex-client

Democratic Sen. R.C. Soles of Columbus County has had two distressing run-ins with former legal clients recently, one of them ending when he beat the man off with a shoe, a political newsletter reports.

In each case Soles, a lawyer, asked that no criminal charges be filed, according to the report today in the Insider, an e-mail newsletter published by The News & Observer. The Insider was unable to reach Soles for comment.

According to the Insider:

The first incident occurred July 25 at Soles' home. Former client Stacey Scott, 26, called Tabor City police, claiming that Soles had struck him with a car, injuring his hand.

But Soles told officers that Scott had climbed a fence, moved a chair from behind his residence to a front porch and then attempted to enter his car when he arrived home. Soles removed one of his shoes and hit Scott to keep him from getting in the car, according to a police report. A security camera tape confirmed Soles' version of events, police said. They concluded that Scott had trespassed.

The second incident happened Aug. 4 when officers were called to the home of Soles' father. Soles, who was in his car, flagged down officers on a road leading to the home.

According to a police report, a teen and a man in separate cars -- Allen Strickland, 16, and Thomas Blackburn, 21 -- were following Soles and harassing him. Soles asked that the officers to instruct the two to stop the harassment, police said, but he did not press charges.

Soles is in his 40th year as a lawmaker and running for another term. He is thought to be the longest-serving member in the history of the North Carolina legislature.