Woman found guilty of forgery

A woman was found guilty Monday of misdemeanor common law forgery for altering town of Carrboro documents related to a struggle with the town that’s lasted more than two years.

Marilyn Kille, owner of Peppermint Spring Farm, built an apartment within a barn on her property in 1997.

When it was brought to the attention of the town of Carrboro through a formal complaint in 2006, she became engaged in a civil lawsuit with the town for violating a zoning law.

Kille’s apartment is located in a town watershed area, where these kinds of apartments are prohibited.

In a criminal lawsuit that came to a close Monday, the court found that Kille went through property records, changed information with a pen to indicate that an apartment had been part of her barn’s original use and then made photocopies.

During cross-examination in court, Kille said the word “workshop” added to a document was in her handwriting, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Nieman said.

Kille took the stand in her own defense Monday, denying that she altered the documents.

She still claims that the proceedings stem from a corrupt Carrboro government.

She said she thinks her property is being targeted to gain control of watershed farms in the area.

“Carrboro has misled public officials to get erroneous information to be used against me,” she said.

“They’ve got too much money in the continuing development of this community to allow me to prevail.”

Nieman requested that Kille undergo a mental evaluation, but the judge did not order it.

“If I have to be a criminal, let me be a criminal,” Kille said.

Judge Joseph Buckner sentenced Kille to a 15-day suspended sentence, a $100 fine and court costs.

Kille has a right to appeal to N.C. Superior Court, but Kille did not confirm or deny whether she would appeal.

“My understanding is that Ms. Kille will likely appeal this decision,” T.C. Morphis, Carrboro assistant town attorney, said.

J. Dickson Phillips, Kille’s attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Morphis brought a civil case against Kille in 2007, and it still hasn’t been resolved.

“The criminal case and the civil case are really separate,” Nieman said.

The civil issue was discussed at the Sept. 1 Carrboro Board of Aldermen meeting.

Carrboro officials resolved that Kille should remove the electrical meter from the apartment, making it unlivable, Morphis said.

Kille has been renting the apartment to a local graduate student.

Morphis said the meter has not yet been removed.


Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.