RALEIGH -- Former Robeson County Sheriff Glenn Maynor pleaded guilty
Wednesday to perjury and conspiring to misapply federal money. Maynor,
who is 61, declined to comment after the hearing in U.S. District
Court in Raleigh.

He was charged two weeks ago in a two-count bill of criminal
information. Each count carries a sentence of no more than five years
and a $250,000 fine. Maynor's sentencing has not been scheduled.

"North Carolinians must have confidence in the integrity of our peace
officers. Prosecuting corrupt law enforcement officials is a top
priority," U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said in a statement.
Maynor becomes the highest ranking of 20 former Robeson County law
enforcement officers to plead guilty since a state and federal
investigation called Operation Tarnished Badge began nearly five years
ago. The investigation continues.

Wes Camden, an assistant U.S. attorney, said the Robeson County
Sheriff's Office received more than $10,000 in federal money meant for
law enforcement programs between September 2002 and September 2003.

Camden said Maynor conspired with his deputies to use $5,000 or more
of that money to benefit the former sheriff personally and
politically. Maynor solicited employees to clear trees and other
debris from his property, to collect contributions for his political
campaigns and to work fundraisers for his campaigns, including his
annual golf tournament, Camden said. The deputies were paid for their
time.

Camden said Maynor also lied to a grand jury when he said he had no
knowledge that some of his deputies had participated in satellite TV
piracy. Maynor not only knew that his deputies were pirating the TV
signals, he was involved himself, according to his indictment.

Maynor resigned as sheriff after 10 years in December 2004, citing
health reasons. Two other former deputies -- Robert Ivey and Hobert
"Frankie" Britt -- pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to commit
satellite TV piracy. Ivey retired this summer as a field agent with
the state Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. All 20 of the law officers
who have pleaded guilty are awaiting sentencing. Sentencing hearings
that had been set for this week for most of the deputies have been
postponed indefinitely.

Only former deputy Vincent Sinclair is being kept in jail while
awaiting sentencing.

A court order dated Sept. 18 gave state and federal authorities
permission to relocate Sinclair so he could take a polygraph and be
debriefed. Deputies have pleaded guilty to everything from pirating TV
signals to charges of racketeering, kidnapping, theft of federal
money, money laundering and distribution of drugs.