Cabarrus County says complaints about Sean Newton's conduct led to his firing

Cabarrus County argues the former manager was terminated for cause and is not entitled to nearly $290,000 in severance pay.

Sean Newton served as Cabarrus County manager from March 2025 until commissioners voted to terminate him on Aug. 18, 2025. Photo courtesy of Cabarrus County.

Cabarrus County says complaints that former County Manager Sean Newton yelled at multiple employees were among the reasons commissioners voted to terminate him last year, according to the county’s first formal response to Newton’s lawsuit challenging his dismissal.