NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor Theodis Beck, Secretary Tracy Little, Director of Public Information (919) 716-3700

August 7, 2000

RALEIGH -- Two longtime correction employees, Steve Muller and David Mitchell, have been named superintendents of Pamlico Correctional Facility in Bayboro and Mountain View Correctional Facility in Spruce Pine, respectively. Their new assignments became effective August 4.

In September, DOC will assume operation of Pamlico and Mountain View. The Corrections Corporation of America currently operates the medium-custody facilities, which opened in 1998.

After naming Muller and Mitchell to their new positions, DOC Secretary Theodis Beck said, "Steve's vast experience in criminal justice will help a great deal while we make the change from private to state control at the facility." He went on to say of Mitchell, "David helped oversee the construction and opening of Mountain View. His knowledge of the facility and staff made him an excellent choice for the position of superintendent."

Muller, a 27-year DOC veteran, has been superintendent at Sampson Correctional Institution in Clinton since 1997. He said the move to Pamlico will be a challenge. However, he said, "I'm looking forward to the transition and being part of a new community."

Muller began his career with the Department of Correction in 1973 as a correctional officer at Blanch. He transferred to Alamance Correctional Center in 1975, where he was promoted to sergeant, and transferred to Guilford Correctional Center in 1976. Ten years later he was promoted to assistant superintendent at the same prison. Muller became superintendent at Gates Correctional Center in 1995.

Mitchell, a DOC employee since 1988, served as a monitor during the construction of Mountain View. After the unit opened, he continued to monitor operations for DOC until he took an assignment as an assistant superintendent at Western Youth Institution in Morganton, where he has worked for the past two months. He has also worked at Caldwell Correctional Center and Rutherford Correctional Center.

Mitchell said that his monitoring work at Mountain View gave him a connection to the local area. "I have a commitment to the local staff, the community and the department. Now, it's just a matter of seeing it through," he said.

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