JUDGE ORDERS WOMAN TO JAIL

Final Defendant In Davidson Drug Ring Gets 4-Year Sentence

GREENSBORO - Elizabeth Ann Harward, the final defendant in the drug ring
that involved three vice and narcotics deputies in Davidson County, was
sentenced yesterday to almost four years in prison on charges related to
distributing steroids.

Harward was first considered only a witness in the case, but her actions
eventually led to federal drug charges against her, to which she pleaded
guilty.

Harward, 25, was the girlfriend of Wyatt Earl Kepley, who was sentenced to
more than three years in prison in July for his part in dealing steroids.

In a tearful statement, Harward told Judge William Osteen Jr. of U.S.
District Court that her attempts to maintain her relationship with Kepley
resulted in her making a series of wrong decisions.

"Love can cause you to do things you should not do," she said. "I have
learned my lesson through this. I will never let love make a decision for
me when I know right from wrong."

Her actions after Kepley's arrest in December baffled the prosecutor, the
judge, and even her own attorney.

Harward was charged with conspiracy to distribute steroids in March and
pleaded guilty in May. As part of her plea agreement, Harward was supposed
to let authorities know about any other drugs.

But in September, investigators found a stash of steroids in a Stanly
County self-storage unit that Harward hadn't told authorities about.

She pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute steroids last
month, with sentencing on both charges deferred until yesterday.

In addition, Harward was given more than the minimum sentence because she
discouraged other witnesses from testifying in the case.

Prosecutor Sandra Hairston told Osteen that Harward had been given every
opportunity to cooperate but still took actions that led to the charges.

"It's been a confusing, strange set of events," she said.

Harward's attorney, Dan Johnson, also told Osteen that he did not
understand her actions.

"She could have remained free but now faces a long time in prison," he
said. "It's somewhat mystifying to me how we got to this point."

Osteen ordered that Harward be imprisoned in a facility that can provide
her with mental-health treatment and counseling. Osteen also allowed
Harward, who is living with her parents, to remain free until she is
scheduled to report to prison Jan. 6.

The drug-distribution ring, which dealt in cocaine, steroids and Ecstasy,
involved officers from three area law-enforcement agencies. It was
uncovered late last year after the arrest of Russell McHenry, a Thomasville
police officer, in Greensboro.

The subsequent investigation led to the arrests in December of Kepley,
Davidson vice and narcotics officers David Scott Woodall, Douglas Edward
Westmoreland and William Monroe Rankin, Archdale Police Officer Christopher
Shetley, and Marco Aurelio Acosta-Soza. Neither Kepley nor Acosta-Soza was
involved in law enforcement.

All of the officers, as well as Kepley and Acosta-Soza, pleaded guilty to a
variety of drug-related charges and were sentenced earlier this year to
prison sentences ranging from less than three years to 27 years.