GATESVILLE – Twenty-two months ago, Randy Hathaway gained what he referenced at that time as his “dream job.”

On Monday of this week, Hathaway’s dream ended on the heels of a nightmare.

The veteran law enforcement officer resigned as Sheriff of Gates County on July 9. The end came in the form of a letter of resignation sent to the Gates County Board of Commissioners the same day.

Gates County Manager Natalie Rountree said Hathaway’s letter stated that the resignation was effective immediately.

This all comes after Hathaway, along with three of his deputies, were arrested Jan. 22 by an agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. He was charged in a grand jury indictment with obstruction of justice, failure to discharge duties of office, and obtaining property by false pretense.

The latter charge, which was also filed against the three deputies, stemmed from the foursome allegedly signing up for duty as a school security officer on certain dates and did not perform in that capacity; collecting pay for working as a deputy (from the county) and as a school security officer (paid separately by the Gates County Public School District).

Hathaway was ousted from office on the day of his arrest after District 1 Attorney Andrew Womble petitioned a judge to temporarily remove the Sheriff from his position.

A removal hearing, a civil action postponed from an earlier date, was scheduled for Hathaway on July 9, the same day his letter of resignation was received.

Despite the allegations, Hathaway did seek to win the Democratic nomination for Sheriff in the May Primary. He fell short in that bid by placing third in a four-candidate field.

Hathaway was technically still an employee of Gates County local government up until his formal resignation. However, he was placed on leave without pay/benefits following his Jan. 22 arrest.

Up until his fall from grace, Hathaway had risen through the ranks of the Gates County Sheriff’s Office. He joined that office as a rookie deputy on July 12, 1999. He was first promoted to Patrol Sgt. and then was named Chief Deputy under then Sheriff Ed Webb in 2012.

When Webb announced in August of 2016 that he was retiring, Hathaway was appointed Interim Sheriff.

Robert Jordan is serving as Gates County’s current Interim Sheriff. He was named to that position upon Hathaway’s removal from office back in January.