Former Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page has filed an amended complaint in his federal lawsuit against...

Former Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page has filed an amended complaint in his federal lawsuit against the county and Commissioner Kevin Berger, expanding the original June filing with more specific pay details, additional allegations about Berger's role and new claims about the county's motives.

The amended complaint was filed Oct. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and replaces the original complaint filed June 29. The county and Berger had already asked the court to dismiss the original complaint in a Sept. 21 motion, and they are represented by attorneys with Baker Donelson.

Page's lawsuit claims the county and Berger retaliated against him for publicly opposing a commercial casino project pushed by Senate Leader Phil Berger in 2023 and for running against the Senate leader in the 2026 Republican primary. Page defeated Phil Berger in March; Kevin Berger is the senator's son and serves on the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners. The amended filing states Page's pay stood at $153,889 by mid-2024 and that later budgets froze his stated salary at $156,289 while the register of deeds' salary rose each year, and it adds an allegation that before the board adopted the 2024-25 budget a commissioner told the register of deeds the county was removing the raises so the sheriff would not receive another dime from the county. Page seeks damages including punitive damages against Kevin Berger personally, plus court orders protecting his compensation and retirement benefits. The defendants have not yet responded to the amended complaint.

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Source note: Star News TV · Nov 6, 2026 12:40 AM.