Gastonia man James Michael Thomas, 41, is now facing a range of felony charges — including one under North Carolina’s rarely used statute prohibiting possession of a “weapon of mass death and destruction.”

Arrest Details:

Thomas, of Gastonia (zip code 28052), was booked at 1:23 am on Nov. 9, 2025, by the Gaston County Police Department, according to court records.

Law enforcement records list the following charges:

Felony – Weapon, Possess, Mass Destruction (Docket 25CR459228)

Felony – Cruelty to Animals (Docket 24CR461828)

Misdemeanor – Manufacture of Alcoholic Beverages Without Permit (Docket 25CR459228) He is being held pre-trial and currently without bail posted.

What the Weapons Statute Covers:

The charge of “weapon of mass death and destruction” refers to North Carolina Gener

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