EX-DEPUTY CONVICTED ON WEAPONS, DRUG CHARGES

PORTSMOUTH -- A former Norfolk and Chesapeake sheriff's deputy was
convicted Monday of drug and weapons charges. Sean Kelley Kirshon, 30, of
Portsmouth, was found guilty of two felonies: possessing cocaine with
intent to distribute and having a firearm while in possession of drugs. He
also was found guilty of possessing marijuana, a misdemeanor.

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

At the time, Kirshon acknowledged to police that he sold drugs to friends.

He was fired from the Norfolk Sheriff's Department three days after police
searched his house. He also worked for the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department
for a time.

During a bench trial Monday in Portsmouth Circuit Court, defense attorney
Teddy Black told Judge Dean W. Sword there was no evidence that Kirshon
knew the drugs were in the house and that the items seized by police could
have belonged to someone else.

The gun that police found could have belonged to Kirshon's father, who
works for the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department, Black said. Kirshon's father
could not be reached for comment.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ed Ferreira said police found more than
26 grams of cocaine in the house and drug paraphernalia in every room.

In his decision, Sword said the evidence indicated Kirshon was responsible
for the items police found. The judge also dismissed the argument that
weapons charges should not apply when firearms are issued to a
law-enforcement officer.

``The question is, is the gun being used in the illegal drug trade?'' Sword
said.

Kirshon is being held in Portsmouth City Jail without bond. He faces at
least five years in prison because he was convicted of the firearms charge.
His sentencing is scheduled for October.