NC woman with 85 criminal convictions sentenced to lengthy prison term

A Hickory woman with 85 criminal convictions, including six for driving while impaired, was sentenced to 14 more years in prison this week.

Marijo Rudisill, 49, was sentenced after a Catawba County jury found her guilty of selling methamphetamine and possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, and Rudisill then pleaded guilty to another set of the same charges and to being a habitual felon.

The drug charges stemmed from two undercover buys made by Catawba County sheriff’s investigators at separate sites in the county, the Catawba County District Attorney’s Office said.

Rudisill will serve the 14 years after she finishes her current sentence of six to eight years, prosecutors said. She is serving her current sentence after being convicted in Burke County in July of possession of a stolen vehicle and habitual felon status.

Rudisill has 50 prior misdemeanor convictions, the six DWIs and 22 other felony convictions, the district attorney’s office said.

“This case is another example of my commitment to protect our citizens from career criminals,” District Attorney David Learner said in a statement on Wednesday. “Ms. Rudisill will be at least 70 years old before she will complete her prison term. We continue to work closely with all law enforcement agencies to take drug dealers and repeat offenders off the streets.”

This story was originally published November 29, 2017 at 11:38 PM with the headline "NC woman with 85 criminal convictions sentenced to lengthy prison term."