INMATE, EX-DEPUTY GUILTY IN DRUG CASE

NORFOLK — A former sheriff's deputy and a jail inmate pleaded guilty
Wednesday to conspiring to bring marijuana into the City Jail.

The former deputy, Monique N. Whitehurst, will be sentenced in
October. Whitehurst, 27, also was charged with felony attempt to
deliver marijuana and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, but those
charges were withdrawn after her plea to the felony conspiracy
charge. She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The inmate, Ernest J. Wilson, was sentenced to 10 years, but eight
years of the time was suspended. Because of his cooperation with
investigators, 18 months of the time will run in conjunction with a 7
1/2-year prison term Wilson is already serving for his conviction on
possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. A second conspiracy
charge against him was withdrawn.

Sheriff's investigators began recording phone calls between
Whitehurst and Wilson in February 2004. During their conversations,
Whitehurst agreed to deliver marijuana to Wilson, who was housed on
the sixth floor of the jail. They referred to the drugs as "trees,"
"collard greens," "jank" and "ball-fifty," court documents said.
Whitehurst got the marijuana from a woman outside the jail and
smuggled the drugs into the jail in her vagina.

In Wilson's statement to police, he said the investigation started
because other inmates smoked the marijuana he provided.

It was getting a little obvious about the smoke in the air," Wilson
told police. "You know, with stupidity comes foolishness, so that is
what brought about the investigation."

Wilson said he gave Whitehurst money through an intermediary for her
participation and helped her to pay some bills. They developed a
romantic relationship and Wilson told Whitehurst that he loved her.

Indictments said Whitehurst brought the drugs into the jail between
January and April 2004. Wilson said she delivered marijuana three
times. On April 2, 2004, Whitehurst's supervisor called her into his
office. At first Whitehurst denied a relationship with anyone in the
jail. Then she admitted to talking to Wilson and asked for a lawyer.

Deputies searched Whitehurst's blue Mazda 626 in a city parking lot
after a drug-sniffing dog alerted on the door of the car. Deputies
found 3.3 grams of marijuana ­ about $25 worth ­ in the glove box of
the car. Whitehurst was to have delivered the drugs to Wilson that
afternoon during her shift.

Prosecutor Amy Cross said police and sheriff's investigators
suspended Whitehurst, then turned the case over to the commonwealth's
attorney to determine what charges should be filed. Whitehurst was
indicted on March 2 and arrested two days later.

Whitehurst had worked as a sheriff's deputy for almost four years,
said Bonita Harris, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.