Appeals Court Unanimously Affirms Alamance County Woman’s Fentanyl Convictions Linked to Overdose

A three-member panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the 2024 convictions of 45-year-old Emily Jean Robinson of Snow Camp, upholding a sentence tied to a 2021 fentanyl overdose death in Burlington. The appeals court issued its opinion Jan. 22, 2026, rejecting Robinson’s arguments that the trial judge curtailed her defense, that toxicology expert testimony should have been excluded, and that she received ineffective assistance of counsel.

Robinson was convicted in 2024 of possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance - fentanyl, maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors also proved a death-by-distribution charge connected to the 2021 overdose death of Robert Starner of Burlington. Robinson is serving a five-to-seven-year sentence at Anson Correctional Institute.

Because of Robinson’s relationship to the county sheriff, local officials assigned an out-of-county prosecutorial team to handle the investigation and prosecution. That step reflected standard conflict-of-interest safeguards used by Alamance County when law enforcement or family ties could affect prosecutorial independence. The appeals court’s ruling leaves intact not only the convictions but the case record that detailed how investigators linked fentanyl distribution to the fatal overdose.

The decision carries immediate local significance. For Burlington residents and families in Snow Camp, the outcome affirms that criminal distribution cases linked to fatal overdoses can be pursued through the county system even when conflict-of-interest concerns require outside prosecutors. The ruling also underscores how appellate courts evaluate claims that trial judges limited defense opportunities or allowed expert testimony - standards that shape future courtroom procedure in Alamance County.

Public safety advocates and officials tracking the county’s overdose crisis will see the ruling as confirmation that courts will sustain convictions in death-by-distribution cases when the trial record supports the elements of the offense. At the same time, the case highlights ongoing tensions for small communities when personal ties between public officials and defendants require special handling to maintain public trust. The appointment of an out-of-county team served as a visible measure to preserve prosecutorial neutrality during the original case.

For Alamance County voters and civic leaders, the appeals court opinion is a reminder that local governance must balance transparency, prosecutorial independence, and victim accountability. Emily Jean Robinson’s convictions remain in effect and she continues to serve her sentence at Anson Correctional Institute. The ruling is likely to be cited in future defense and prosecution strategies in overdose-related prosecutions and as a reference point for how conflicts involving county officials are managed in criminal cases.