Moore County Criminal History
Moore County criminal history records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in Carthage. This office stores all criminal case files for the county. You can search for records in person at the courthouse or through the state court portal. Moore County criminal history data spans decades of cases. The clerk staff assists the public with record requests each day.
Moore County Clerk of Superior Court
Clerk Todd Elliott Maness oversees criminal history records in Moore County. The courthouse is in Carthage, the county seat. All felony and misdemeanor cases filed in Moore County are stored here. The clerk office is open on weekdays for public visits. You can ask staff to look up a case by name or number.
Moore County falls in Judicial District 29. Both Superior Court and District Court hear criminal cases here. Family Court is also part of this district. Superior Court handles felony charges. District Court covers misdemeanors, infractions, and preliminary hearings. All of these produce criminal history records that the clerk maintains in Carthage.
The Carthage courthouse serves everyone in Moore County. This includes residents of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, and other towns. No matter where in the county a crime occurred, the case is filed at this courthouse. The clerk keeps the records safe and makes them available to the public under state law.
| Court |
Moore County Clerk of Superior Court Carthage, NC |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Todd Elliott Maness |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/moore-county |
How to Search Moore County Criminal History
There are two main ways to search criminal history in Moore County. You can go in person or use the internet. Each method has its own strengths. In-person visits let you see the full file. Online tools give you fast results from anywhere.
At the courthouse, ask the clerk to search by the person's full name. A date of birth helps narrow results. If you have a case number, give that to the staff. They will pull the file. You can review it at the counter. Copies cost a small fee. Certified copies of Moore County criminal history records cost $25 each.
Online, use the NC eCourts portal to search Moore County criminal cases. Pick the county and type a name. The system shows active and closed cases. You can see charges, court dates, and outcomes. This tool is free for basic searches. It does not provide certified copies.
Note: If you need records from before the eCourts system went live, call the clerk in Carthage. Older Moore County criminal history files may only be in paper form. Staff can look them up and make copies for you.
Moore County Criminal Case Records
A criminal case in Moore County creates a trail of records. It starts with an arrest or a citation. The sheriff or police file charges. A magistrate sets bond. The case then moves to court. Each step adds documents to the file. All of this becomes part of the criminal history record in Moore County.
The main documents in a Moore County criminal case file include the charging document, any motions filed by either side, court orders, and the final judgment. A guilty plea or verdict at trial produces a judgment. A dismissal also gets recorded. Every outcome is part of the criminal history. Under NCGS § 132-1, these records are public in most cases.
Moore County criminal history records show:
- Name and date of birth of the defendant
- Charges filed and statute numbers
- Court dates and continuances
- Plea or verdict
- Sentence if convicted
- Probation terms if applicable
State Criminal History Resources
Moore County criminal history is also part of the statewide system. The NC State Bureau of Investigation keeps a central database of criminal records from all 100 counties. This database holds arrest and conviction data reported by law enforcement and courts across North Carolina. A state-level check may reveal records from Moore County and other places.
Under NCGS § 114-19, the SBI provides criminal record checks. Fingerprint-based checks are the most thorough. Moore County residents can get fingerprinted at the local sheriff office. The results cover the entire state. Name-based checks are also available but may miss records filed under a different name or spelling.
The NC offender search tool from the Department of Public Safety is another free resource. It shows people in state prison or on supervision. If someone was convicted of a felony in Moore County and got prison time, that record appears in this system. It is free to use and updated often.
Criminal History Expunction in Moore County
Some criminal records in Moore County can be erased through expunction. North Carolina law under NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150 sets the rules. Not every case qualifies. The type of charge, the outcome, and the time since the case ended all matter. Violent crimes and sex offenses are generally not eligible.
To seek an expunction, you file a petition at the Moore County courthouse. The NC Courts forms page has the right paperwork. A judge reviews the petition. If approved, the criminal history record is removed from public view. The clerk deletes it from local files. The SBI removes it from the state database. It will no longer appear in a Moore County criminal history search.
Common eligible situations include dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain first-time misdemeanor or drug offenses. There are waiting periods for most types. If you are not sure whether your Moore County record qualifies, contact Legal Aid of North Carolina for guidance. The NC Courts expunction page also explains the process.
Public Access to Moore County Records
Criminal history records in Moore County are public under North Carolina law. NCGS § 132-1 defines public records broadly. Court files fall under this law. Anyone can ask to see a criminal case file at the clerk office in Carthage. You do not have to give a reason. The clerk must let you inspect the record or provide copies.
Under § 132-6.2, the clerk may charge a reasonable fee for copies. Plain copies cost less than certified ones. Certified copies of Moore County criminal history records are $25 each. These bear the official seal and are accepted by courts and other agencies. The NC Courts records page has more detail on access rights.
Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged records are not available to the public. If a record has been expunged in Moore County, the clerk will say no record exists. Grand jury proceedings are also secret. But for the vast majority of criminal cases, full public access applies.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Moore County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place. If you are unsure which county holds the record, check the location of the arrest or incident.