By Miles Layton

Since other news outlets are too lazy and/or stupid to do their own work, I’ll do it for you so you can copy and paste, call it your own without attribution to the Albemarle Observer.

Edenton Town Councilman Aaron Coston waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a felony extortion charge in Pitt County Court on Monday, according to court documents. Waiving the hearing is a pretty standard procedure—a waiver sends the case straight to the next stage, which may or may not be trial.

The story’s photo shows his empty chair at Monday’s council meeting.

According to the arrest warrant, Coston threatened to tell the male victim’s employer about his online adult-content account unless the man paid $5,000 and signed a nondisclosure agreement. The charging document also alleges that Coston possessed intimate photographs of the man, who is not named in court documents, and threatened to use them to jeopardize his job.

Back in May, Town Hall issued this statement when Coston was charged with two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses in a separate incident — the same thing applies to the latest round of charges.

“These are serious offenses. With due respect for law enforcement and our judicial system, Councilman Coston is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. The citizens of Edenton rightly expect honesty and transparency. However, further comment
during the pendency of this matter would be inappropriate.

“The Town of Edenton will continue its work on behalf of the citizens we serve, and we ask the community to be patient and allow the legal process to proceed to a conclusion.”

That case is still percolating up through the justice system, same as the other one.

Coston was first elected to the Edenton Town Council on May 17, 2022, defeating incumbent Roscoe Poole Jr. to represent the Third Ward.

Coston was reelected in November of 2025 to another four-year term on council. His term expires in 2029.

Now for some uncomfortable questions that need answers:

Whether it’s Plymouth, Edenton or anywhere else, what happens if there is a vacancy on the council?

When a council seat becomes vacant, the remaining members choose a replacement by majority vote, according to NC General Statute. The appointee serves out the rest of the unexpired term.

Back in West Virginia, I covered a small town when the mayor was charged and later convicted of something stupid. Don’t remember the charge; Don’t want to remember. Guy was a dick, but sometimes he had to be when managing a town of know-it-alls and herding the alley cats who served on council.

Reflecting on all that, I remember the question as to whether that mayor would be able to serve if convicted.

In a hypothetical situation, this question arises: Can a council member convicted of a felony continue to serve on the council?

Answer: North Carolina General Statute 160A-59 and Article VI, Section 8 of the North Carolina Constitution, which states that individuals convicted of felonies are disqualified from holding office unless their rights of citizenship — including the right to vote and run for office — have been formally restored through a legal process.