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Absher remains jailed under $300k bond after first appearance

Michael Absher

By Bill Moss, Published: July 31, 2025

A former Henderson County School Board member who faces two felony counts of statutory sexual offense with a child under 16 remained in jail on a $300,000 bond on Friday after a first appearance in District Court.

Wearing a gray and white striped jail jumpsuit, Michael Lee Absher appeared before Judge Gene Johnson via video link from the detention center for the brief first appearance. He got a court-appointed attorney, no reduction in bond and, based on a request from the District Attorney's office, a new condition added should he be released from jail.

Absher "runs a home for troubled and homeless youth and that seems to be part of the issue alleged by law enforcement," Assistant District Attorney Michael Van Buren told Johnson. The judge granted the prosecutor's request to bar Absher, 35, from having contact with anyone under 18 years old upon his release from jail.

Detectives with the sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division Special Investigations Unit arrested Absher Thursday on the felony counts “after a disclosure of sexual assaults of juveniles,” the sheriff's office said in a news release said. Deputies also executed a search warrant at the Only Hope WNC residence where Absher lives. Arrest warrants showed that the alleged offenses occurred last Oct. 1 and Nov. 1 against a victim identified only by two initials. Both the arrest warrant and voter records show Absher's home address as 416 Allen Road, which is the location of Only Hope's house for homeless youth.
Following his arrest, Absher appeared before a magistrate who issued a secured bond set at $300,000.

The alleged assault is part of an on-going investigation, and no other information will be released at this time, the sheriff’s office said Thursday. “We encourage anyone with additional information regarding Michael Absher to contact the Special Investigations Unit at 828-694-5714 or use the 'submit a tip' feature available on our mobile app," the news release said.

Since he founded Only Hope WNC, Absher has been successful in persuading local government and other grantors to appropriate money to support its operations. In the budget it adopted in June, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners appropriated $35,000 to Only Hope WNC.

"Only Hope WNC Inc. is a local non-profit whose mission is to promote the value of education, honor individuality and diversity, nurture respect for self and others, and provide hope for young people in need in community. ... seeking assistance," the nonprofit says in a mission statement. "Only Hope Dream Home: Imagine having a place where homeless teens can come and feel safe. A place where they can come when they have nowhere else to go. A place to offer training for a bright future. A home where we are able to find stable housing for students, transition them into independent living, and offer support services for them."
According to Guidestar, a website that reports the business and finances of nonprofit organizations, Only Hope had revenue of $189,000 and listed assets of $42,111.
A 990 tax form filed in 2023 — the most recent one on the IRS website —reported contribution and gifts totaling $158,200, program service revenue including government contracts of $31,000, total expenses of $193,710 and a fund balance of $42,111. The tax return showed Absher working 40 hours a week but drawing no pay. Board members reported working 1, 5, 10 or 20 hours a week, also with no pay. 
A graduate of East Henderson High School, Absher won local, regional and even national recognition when he was first starting Only Hope. He received the Wells Fargo Co.'s annual Volunteer Service Award in 2014 when he was working as a teller at the bank's South Main Street location. Wells Fargo contributed $10,000 to Only Hope WNC in honor of Absher and his contributions to the organization.

"Absher has an endless passion to serve the homeless youths in the Hendersonville area resulting from experiencing homelessness earlier in his life," Wells Fargo in a statement at the time. 

The bank's news release also included a tribute from Christine Singleton, Only Hope WNC vice president and chief operating officer.

"Michael's commitment and drive to help combat homelessness among our local children and young adults is truly inspirational," she said. "I commend him for taking his past experience of being homeless and turning it into an opportunity to positively impact the lives of so many young people in our community."

Absher won election to the Henderson County School Board in 2016 and lost his re-election bid in 2020. He ran again for a board seat in 2024, losing in the Republican primary.