EX-DEPUTY GIVEN SEVEN YEARS FOR DRUG CRIMES

PORTSMOUTH -- Former Norfolk and Chesapeake sheriff's deputy Sean Kirshon
told a judge Tuesday that his decision to get involved with drugs was a
"terrible mistake" that he has paid for every day in solitary confinement.
His stepfather, a former police officer, took the stand and spoke of
Kirshon's devotion to his family and his reliable employment record.

And his father, a sheriff's deputy in Chesapeake, sat quietly in the
courtroom in support.

Then came Circuit Judge Dean W. Sword Jr.'s decision.

"I'm afraid I . . . have no sympathy whatsoever for someone in law
enforcement who gets involved in dealing illegal drugs," Sword said. "This
is an enormously sad situation."

Sword sentenced Kirshon, 30, to serve seven years in prison for possessing
cocaine with the intent to distribute, having a firearm while in possession
of drugs, and possessing marijuana.

The firearms conviction carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence.
Without that conviction, sentencing guidelines in Kirshon's case called for
between nine months and 20 months in prison, his attorney, Steven F.
Shames, told the court.

Kirshon was arrested in March and jailed after police seized drugs, smoking
devices and scales from his residence in the 5600 block of Greenefield
Drive South, in Portsmouth's Churchland section.

At the time, he acknowledged to police that he sold drugs to friends. In
their search, officers also took a loaded handgun that police believe had
been issued to Kirshon for his job with the Norfolk Sheriff's Department.

Soon after, Kirshon was fired from the department, where he had worked
about four years. He had also worked for a time in the Chesapeake Sheriff's
Department.

Kirshon was convicted in August of the two felonies and misdemeanor
marijuana charge.

On Tuesday, he admitted doing drugs and said he suffered living alone in
jail while his case was pending.

"I've learned my lesson," Kirshon told the court.

Sword said the former deputy should be familiar with the jail system.
Special measures are taken with former law-enforcement officers in custody
for their protection, said Lisa White, a spokeswoman for the Portsmouth
Sheriff's Department.

Bob Beaman testified that Kirshon, his stepson, had graduated from Old
Dominion University, always held a job and attended weekly family dinners
before his incarceration.

Prosecutors said Kirshon admitted to selling drugs for five months and that
his position in the community made his conduct seem like a betrayal.

"When someone like Mr. Kirshon behaves in this manner, it taints the image
of every law-enforcement officer," said Ed Ferreira, an assistant
commonwealth's attorney. "He thought he was above the law."

For the felony charges, Kirshon was fined $2,500 and sentenced to 10 years
in prison, with three years suspended. He also must serve three years
supervised probation.

For the misdemeanor, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, to be served
concurrently with the prison time.