FORMER OFFICER GETS 38 MONTHS

A former Bethel Police Department lieutenant, arrested in 2005 in
connection with drug and weapon charges, was sentenced Monday to 38
months in a federal penitentiary.

Sentencing comes 13 months after 32-year-old Jerome Earl Cox pleaded
guilty to aiding and abetting another in knowingly and unlawfully
distributing more than five grams of crack cocaine.

At his nearly 30 minute hearing, Cox wiped tears as he apologized to
Judge Malcolm Howard.

"I am a very family-oriented man," Cox said softly, his voice
trembling. "I love my wife."

He further described the agony of spending the last 13 months
incarcerated at the Pitt County Detention Center, where he's been
isolated in the D block -- only allowed to leave his cell one hour each
day. Cox's pastor, wife and about 25 other friends and family watched
the proceedings from wooden benches inside the United States District
Courtroom. Many had written letters to Howard in support of the nearly
five year police department veteran.

All closed their eyes, some bowed their heads, as they prayed together
during a brief recess before Howard handed down the three year, two
month prison sentence. Cox was credited for the 13 months he has
already served. As part of his punishment, Cox must also submit to
five years supervised probation after his release, pay $3,000 in fines
and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee -- payable in all felony
cases and placed in a fund for federal crime victims.

Cox's sentence was lighter as a result of his agreement to cooperate
with prosecutors and testify against Reginald Roberts, former Bethel
police chief and Cox's friend, who entered a guilty plea in December.
"We believe that without Mr. Cox's cooperation it would have been
harder to obtain a plea with Mr. Roberts," said U.S. Attorney John
Bennett. "He (Cox) played a significant role."

Roberts, who pleaded guilty to the same charge as Cox, is scheduled to
be sentenced next month.

Both men were arrested Oct. 27, 2005, after a three-month probe by the
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation into allegations of drug trafficking and illegal gun
sales. On Sept. 23, hidden cameras planted by the FBI recorded Roberts
waiting in a nearby vehicle while Cox used a hammer to smash open the
lock to a storage unit in Chocowinity. Authorities said the men took
$5,500 in cash and an electronic scale.

A month later, Roberts, Cox and a police informant went to an impound
lot in Washington, N.C. to steal drugs and money stashed in a supposed
drug dealer's truck.

Roberts and Cox took turns smashing a window on the truck before
obtaining 10.7 grams of crack cocaine, a scale and about $2,000 cash.
The men divided the cash and gave the drugs to the informant, court
documents show. Three days later when Cox and Roberts were arrested on
the first floor of the federal courthouse building, law enforcement
found marked bills from the impound lot in Roberts' wallet.

Monday, new Bethel Police Department Police Chief Barry Stanley said
he was happy the incident is one step closer to being resolved. "I'm
really glad that it's finally just about over," Stanley said. "We want
to just put the whole thing behind us ... put some closure to all
this." Stanley said the department, now back up to its full staff of
eight, never really lost the support of the community. He said it's
made great strides since news of Roberts and Cox arrests spread.

Bennett said he was satisfied with Monday's results, but hoped they
sent a message to the community.

"If it happens (you commit a crime), you will be found," he said,
addressing law enforcement.

"To me that's one of the most significant breaches of trust you can
have in a community," Bennett added. "It's a black mark on everybody
who wears a badge."