Craven County honors retiring District Attorney Scott Thomas; Matt Wareham appointed to lead District 4

The Craven County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution Aug. 4 honoring District Attorney Scott Thomas on his retirement, and staff and local officials marked Thomas’s nearly 28 years in public service, including nearly two decades as the elected DA of Prosecutorial District 4 (Craven, Carteret and Pamlico counties).

The resolution — read aloud during the meeting — thanked Thomas for initiatives the office advanced under his leadership, including child advocacy centers, substance-use treatment alternatives to incarceration and expanded responses to the opioid epidemic. The resolution noted Thomas’s prior service in the North Carolina General Assembly and his work mentoring attorneys and building partnerships with law enforcement.

Thomas addressed the board and said he appreciated the support of law enforcement, the courts and his staff. He also announced he had reached retirement eligibility and thanked Chief Assistant Matt Wareham, who he said “is well prepared, well trained, and was willing to take on this job.” Wareham told the board he had been appointed district attorney for Prosecutorial District 4 and said he planned to seek the office in the coming election.

Formal action: commissioners voted to approve the resolution honoring Thomas by voice vote; the board presented Thomas with a resolution and recognized his family and staff members in attendance.

Background: The resolution cited Thomas’s appointment as DA in February 2006 and five subsequent elections to the office, his legal education and a series of statewide leadership roles in prosecutorial organizations.