Ernesto Amaranto
Advent Consultant

Born in Mexico, Ernesto Amaranto crossed the border with his family chasing the promise of a better life. America didn’t just open its doors. It changed everything for them. Out of gratitude, Ernesto enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer, earning the title that still defines him: United States Marine. The Corps forged discipline, honor, and an unrelenting attention to detail into his very core.

After the uniform, Ernesto kept serving, this time on the home front with a badge. He started as a police officer with the Matthews Police Department, then brought that same Marine intensity to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Over the years he has worn every hat: patrol deputy pounding the pavement, detective in the Major Crimes Unit, and now K9 handler partnered with a four-legged warrior who never misses a scent.

Recognized as an expert in state law and landmark case law, Ernesto has led the county’s most complex homicide investigations from crime scene to conviction. He builds airtight cases that withstand appeals because every detail, every fragment of evidence, every statutory citation, every precedent is locked down. He doesn’t just know the law; he lives it. Ernesto is regularly tapped to train and mentor officers statewide, breaking down U.S. Supreme Court rulings, North Carolina General Statutes, and the reasoning behind every decision so the next generation enforces the law with precision and confidence.

Every step from Mexico to Marines, battlefield to badge, crime scene to courtroom has been fueled by one thing: Ernesto Amaranto paying forward what this country gave a kid from across the border. Service isn’t what he does. It’s who he is.