EX-DEPUTY ENTERS GUILTY PLEA TO DRUG POSSESSION

A former Appomattox County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty this week to
possession with intent to distribute marijuana in a plea agreement in
federal court in Richmond.

The former deputy, Eric Stewart Lee, 34, of Appomattox, was arrested in
February and originally faced charges of conspiracy to possess with intent
to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, according to the Appomattox
County Sheriff's Office.

Although Lee was initially charged with intent to distribute cocaine, a
Drug Enforcement Agency investigator's report stated that it was not Lee
but a passenger in his car who intended to purchase cocaine.

Lee will be sentenced July 12 and faces up to five years in prison. He was
employed with the sheriff's office until the arrest.

A statement from Sean P. Montgomery, a special agent with the DEA, said the
investigation began after a "confidential source of information of the
Farmville Police Department who has provided reliable information in the
past" negotiated to sell Lee an ounce or two of marijuana in January.

Around 4:15 p.m. Feb. 15, according to Montgomery's statement, law
enforcement surveillance was set up in Prince Edward County after
authorities received information from the confidential source. About an
hour later, Lee and two passengers in a silver 2001 Lincoln neared the area
where law enforcement had set up the surveillance and the three men were
taken into custody.

Inside the Lincoln driven by Lee was James Edward Felder, 24, of Forest,
whom the confidential source said had been negotiating to purchase cocaine
from the source, according to Montgomery's statement.

"After being given his Miranda warnings and agreeing to speak with law
enforcement, Lee stated that he has been a longtime marijuana smoker and
that he was on his way to pick up an ounce of marijuana," Montgomery's
statement reads.

Felder was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500
grams of cocaine, according to court documents. He is currently out on bail
and his next court date has not been scheduled yet, a U.S. District Court
Eastern District of Virginia clerk said Tuesday.