GUARDS ALLEGE DRUG LORD LED 'PRIVILEGED LIFE'

Every night while other inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison
slept, convicted drug dealer Ron Whethers was released from cell 3225
to clean his cell block, according to Warden Kurt Scalzott.

Guards say during this nightly cleaning routine, Whethers allegedly
made cellular telephone calls to arrange drug deals with cohorts on
the outside.

Last month, state police descended on the prison to arrest Whethers
for operating a drug ring that stretched into Ohio and New York with
help from guard Anthony Shawley of Derry Township. Also arrested were
five members of Whethers' organization, including his 21-year-old daughter.

Guards who recently came forward to be interviewed said Whethers was
afforded privileges other inmates only dreamed about.

He was supplied with cognac on holidays, regularly received new
sneakers through the prison's medical department and had special foods
delivered to his cell block for parties after his chores, the guards
said.

Whethers spent five years at the lockup awaiting trial on a homicide
charge. He has since been moved to the State Correctional Institution
at Somerset.

Already convicted on federal drug charges, the 41-year-old Edenborn,
Fayette County, man will begin serving a life sentence for that
conviction after he stands trial in the beating death of William
Michael Lucas of Monessen, whose heart and liver were transplanted
into the late Gov. Robert Casey.

Whethers faces a July 10 preliminary hearing at the county prison on
the recent drug, bribery and conspiracy charges.

Undercover state police officers allege they purchased more than
$100,000 in drugs through Whethers' prison-based operation.

Scalzott said officials are investigating if Whethers was allowed to
roam outside his cell block during his nightly cleaning work.

State police also reported Whethers arranged to have cocaine and
marijuana brought to him and hid the drugs in his cell and around the
cell block. He also used a stash of heroin to bribe potential
witnesses against him, police said.

Guards Don Svetkovich, Barry Broaddus and Charles Hill told the
Tribune-Review that Whethers seemed to enjoy his special treatment.
Svetkovich is the local steward for the United Mine Workers of
America, the union representing the guards. Broaddus is vice president
of the local.

They said Whethers had a pan of chicken wings delivered to the cell
block one night in early May after completing his cleaning chores.
They said the wings were prepared at the prison.

Keith Barnhart, an international union representative, said the blame
for Whethers' actions is unfairly being placed on the guards.

"Before they criticize corrections officers, they better fulfill their
responsibility to the county by checking management," Barnhart said.
"The bottom line is, responsibility for managing the prison does not
fall on these men. Someone in management had to drop the ball."

Scalzott said he wasn't aware of some allegations leveled by the
guards, who never complained to him about Whethers' special deliveries
of food or alcohol.

The guards also said Whethers received new shoes every month because
of a foot problem.

Scalzott confirmed Whethers got new shoes on a regular basis but not
as frequently as claimed. He said he could not discuss Whethers'
medical problems but said he had a medical clearance to receive new
footwear regularly.

Scalzott said he didn't know Whethers had access to cognac, but
troopers said they found a bottle in the inmate's cell.

The guards called security at the lockup a serious
problem.

For example, Broaddus said security is so lax that visitors -
particularly women - could easily smuggle drugs on their bodies.
Females are not subject to body searches even if they trigger an alarm
from a metal detector.

Prior to Whethers' arrest, prison employees were not screened in any
way on entering the lockup. Officials now plan random searches and
spot drug testing.

County and prison officials are concerned that other guards could be
implicated. The state attorney general's office said more arrests are
expected.

District Attorney John Peck, a prison board member, said until an
informant came to him claiming Whethers was selling drugs from the
prison, the board had no reports of smuggled contraband.

He said the board's meetings are public and covered by the press. He
said the board convenes in private session only to discuss personnel
issues.

Peck said there were never closed-door discussions about the Whethers
case.

In 1994, detectives charged a prison guard with trying to smuggle
$1,000 worth of cocaine into the jail. He was acquitted when an inmate
refused to testify against him.