A criminal summons was issued on April 21, 2018, against Michael C. Lunsford, 56, of Hicks Hollow Road, Elk Park, N.C., for allegedly communicating threats of physical harm to Ballard Jennings, 73, of Morgan Branch Road, Roan Mountain.

According to the summons obtained from the Avery County Superior Court Clerk, the threat “was communicated to Ballard Jennings by threatening to knock out every one of his teeth.”

Also according to the summons, undersigned by Magistrate Bill Burleson,  “the threat was made in a manner and under circumstances which would cause a reasonable person to believe that the threat was likely to be carried out and the person threatened believed that the threat would be carried out.”

Lunsford is the head coach of both the Cloudland High School football team and the girls basketball team, as well as athletic director for the school.

Lunsford is scheduled to appear in the Avery County General Court of Justice District Court Division on June 2, 2018.