44-year-old Thalmus Jaton Linder of Hickory was given an active prison sentence of 10-to-13 years following his conviction for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. The Honorable Gregory R. Hayes, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed the terms of the plea arrangement in Catawba County Superior Court Monday (January 23) after Linder entered his guilty plea on the day his trial was set to begin. Linder will serve his sentence in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

The offense occurred in June of 2021. Following a dispute at a video gaming establishment on Lenoir-Rhyne Boulevard in Hickory, the defendant was asked to leave. As he left the parking area in his car, Linder struck another individual who also left the establishment on a bicycle. The male victim was behind Linder’s car on his bicycle when the defendant backed up and bumped him.

Linder pulled forward as he turned the vehicle and struck the victim a second time. The victim was caught under the car and was dragged out of the driveway and down the highway. The victim was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

Surveillance video from surrounding businesses captured the incident on camera and assisted with the investigation. The case was investigated by Darren Bailey of the Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee handled the prosecution for the state.