Degrees
Associate's, Vance Granville Community College, Criminal Justice (2013)
High School Diploma, Halifax County Senior High (1983)

Robert D. Fountain Jr. | BallotReady

Robert D. Fountain, Jr. earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Vance Granville Community College in 2013.

Professional Experience
Granville County, Sheriff (2022 - Present)
Off the Grid Consultants, Chief Operations Officer (2015 - Present)
US Marine Corps, Military Policemen and Scout Sniper (1986 - 1992)

Robert currently works as chief operations officer at Off the Grid Consultants. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military policeman and scout sniper from 1986 to 1992.

About Robert D. Fountain Jr.
Professional Experience
Granville County, Sheriff (2022 - Present)
Off the Grid Consultants, Chief Operations Officer (2015 - Present)
US Marine Corps, Military Policemen and Scout Sniper (1986 - 1992)

GRANVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF
Sheriff Robert D. Fountain, Jr.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and career law enforcement professional, Sheriff Fountain made history in 2022 as the first Black sheriff elected in Granville County. With a background in gang prevention and public safety strategy, he is dedicated to keeping every corner of Granville County safe.

Candidates | Granville County Democratic Party

Robert currently serves as Granville County sheriff. He was elected in 2022.

Candidates - New - Granville County NC Democratic Party

2026 North Carolina General Election

Issue Stances
Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Continuing efforts to keep neighborhoods, schools, roads, and public spaces safe.

Building positive relationships with young people and families through visibility, mentorship, and prevention-focused programs.

Issue Stances
Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Leading with integrity, transparency, professionalism, and a commitment to the people.

Supporting deputies, officers, and staff with the leadership, resources, and respect they need to serve well.

Part of the solution will simply be to address the work ethic of the agency and encourage more positive interactions with the community. “We have to show the community that they can trust us,” he said. “I’m going to put more boots on the ground to make sure that these guys are in these communities and not in their offices.” Fountain does not want his deputies to feel “under the gun” all the time.

Halifax native elected first Black sheriff in Granville, North Carolina | The Gazette-Virginian

Prioritizes prevention-focused programs, visibility, and mentorship to build relationships with young people and families.

Supports deputies, officers, and staff with leadership, resources, and respect.

Plans to deploy more deputies in communities rather than in offices to build public trust.

- Prioritizes prevention-focused programs, visibility, and mentorship to build relationships with young people and families.
- Supports deputies, officers, and staff with leadership, resources, and respect.
- Plans to deploy more deputies in communities rather than in offices to build public trust.

Public Safety

As of January 5, 2026, Robert D. Fountain, Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

Jail Management

At first, the battle will be both internal within the department and external as well, as the dual mission of fighting crime and protecting the community is an endless one. Fountain is bringing his characteristic innovativeness to this cause as well. “We have the program we’re going to call G.R.A.S.P., Gang Resistance And Suppression Program,” he revealed. This program will focus on giving youths opportunities for belonging, self-expression and fulfillment outside of the organized crime structure — essentially a counter-recruitment campaign to funnel at-risk youth away from the seductions of crime and toward positive community involvement.

In this way, law enforcement officers can be not just the punishers of crime, but leaders of young men and women as well. “We work with these stakeholders to come to the table and work with these schools and these resource officers — not just to be a law enforcement entity, but be mentors to the children,” Fountain stated, further explaining the G.R.A.S.P. program.

Out of respect for the victims and their families, we are not releasing names or detailed medical conditions at this time. We are working closely with medical personnel and next of kin to ensure proper notification before releasing any further information. Our Criminal Investigations Division is handling the investigation and evidence collection.

Sheriff's Office Responds to Incident in Wilton Community on December 9 | Granville County, NC

Proposes the Gang Resistance And Suppression Program, a youth gang-prevention initiative.

As sheriff, withholds victims' names and detailed medical conditions while medical personnel and next of kin are notified.

- Proposes the Gang Resistance And Suppression Program, a youth gang-prevention initiative.
- As sheriff, withholds victims' names and detailed medical conditions while medical personnel and next of kin are notified.

Criminal Justice

Robert D. Fountain, Jr.

As of January 5, 2026, Robert D. Fountain, Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- As sheriff, withholds victims' names and detailed medical conditions while medical personnel and next of kin are notified.

Facebook

Robert is a security consultant. He runs his own security consulting business. He previously worked at the U.S. Marine Corps as a military policeman and scout sniper, at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety as the first gang coordinator for all 100 counties and later as the gang coordinator for all 55 major state prisons, and as the fugitive extradition operations manager overseeing the extraction of North Carolina fugitives from other states.

Halifax native elected first Black sheriff in Granville, North Carolina ...

Robert D. Fountain, Jr. previously ran for Granville County Sheriff in North Carolina in 2022, running in the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022, and appearing on the general election ballot on November 8, 2022.

Robert D. Fountain, Jr. (Granville County Sheriff, North Carolina ...

Sheriff: No election law has been violated

Robert is currently the sheriff of Granville County. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Robert D. Fountain, Jr.'s campaign for Granville County Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

Robert Fountain Jr. is from Halifax County, North Carolina. He graduated from Halifax County High School. He served as a military policeman and scout sniper in the Marine Corps.

Robert previously served as a military policeman and scout sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps. He later worked for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, where he served as the first gang coordinator for all 100 counties in the state. He also worked as a gang coordinator for the Division of Prisons, overseeing all 55 major prisons in North Carolina. He later served as the fugitive extradition operations manager for the department. Robert then transitioned into the private sector, starting his own security consulting business. 

Robert Fountain Jr. is from Halifax County, North Carolina. He graduated from Halifax County High School. 

Robert is a security consultant and law enforcement instructor. He previously worked as a military policeman and scout sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also served as the first gang coordinator for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, overseeing all 100 counties in the state. He later worked as the gang coordinator for the Division of Prisons, managing all 55 major prisons in North Carolina. He also served as the fugitive extradition operations manager for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. 

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Ed Newman

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 