Elton Turner, a frequent public critic of the Moore County Board of Commissioners, is facing rape and assault charges.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Turner, 74, of Vass, on Tuesday and charged him with two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of assault on a handicapped person, according to arrest records. He was jailed with bail set at $50,000.

No other details were available by The Pilot's press time.

Noted for his persistent criticism of the county's elected officials, Turner was one of four residents featured as "gadflies" in The Pilot's 2008 newsmaker of the year spread. He is a prolific letter writer to the editor of The Pilot.

Turner is a regular speaker during the public-comment period preceding each meeting of the county commissioners. At times his comments have generated heated responses from individual commissioners targeted for criticism.

His objections range from accusations that floodplain maps are inaccurate to complaints about the costly operations of his fire service district.

Turner criticized the board for failing to elect Tim Lea as chairman in 2006 and again in 2008 because of a purported agreement reached in an informal and unofficial caucus after the 2004 election. He coined the term "Power of Three" to refer to the 3-2 votes in which former board Chairman Colin McKenzie received support from Commissioners Larry Caddell and Jimmy Melton.

The budget is a regular source of complaints for Turner, who always calls on the commissioners to lower the tax rate and to curb county spending. He was critical of the board's $1.5 million purchase of 21 acres in downtown Carthage to build a jail expansion and other county buildings. He said the price was at least twice the appraised value of the land.

The Moore County Airport and the Airport Authority have come in for their share of criticism. His barbs have been aimed at such things as the building of additional hangars, a request for a loan from the county and the disposition of a grant awarded several years ago.

Turner is a founding member and former president of the Moore County Taxpayers Association, which lobbied annually for a lower tax rate.

A New York state native and Army veteran of the Korean War, Turner has lived in Moore County since 1987. He and his wife have five grown children. Now retired after a career in business and finance, he is also active as a volunteer for his church and in the community.