“Sentenced in Seventeen Days: Integrity on Trial in Kinston”

“After serving most of his life in prison, Domekio Blackwell returned home to Kinston with no home plan, no guidance, and no support from the system that confined him. He tried to rebuild his life the best he could. But on October 18, 2025, he was charged with a felony. By November 4, less than three weeks later, he was sentenced in Superior Court and sent back to prison.

The sentence handed down was 15 to 27 months. What makes this case even more troubling is the speed of his transfer. Domekio was initially being held for transport back to New Mexico, but instead he was rapidly moved into the North Carolina prison system — bypassing the usual delays and procedures that most defendants face.

That kind of fast‑tracking raises serious questions about due process, judicial integrity, and the role of his attorney, Patrick Broadway. His mother, Quarla Blackwell, believes this treatment is not just about the charges, but about retaliation. For years, she has exposed corruption and unprofessional conduct in Kinston’s public agencies. Now, she believes her son is being punished as a reflection of the hostility directed at her for speaking out.

There was no home plan. No reentry support. No second chance. Just a swift sentence and a faster transfer.

This isn’t just about one man’s charges. It’s about a system that moves faster to punish than to protect. It’s about a city that claims justice while silencing dissent.

Tonight, Domekio Blackwell sits in prison serving a 15‑27 month sentence. But the questions remain:

Why was his case rushed through the courts?

Why was his transfer accelerated?

And why does justice in Kinston seem to move fastest when it’s aimed at the vulnerable?

We will continue to follow this story.”

Author: Quarla Blackwell