6 PLEAD GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGES

GREENSBORO -- A drug case that shook the foundations of two law enforcement
agencies came to a subdued conclusion in a federal courtroom Thursday.

With a string of simple "Yes, sir" answers, three former Davidson County
sheriff's deputies, a former Archdale police officer and two other men
pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell tens of thousands of dollars worth of
cocaine, marijuana, steroids and Ecstasy.

The case began in December with the surprise arrest of the six men. Even
Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege didn't know a meeting he attended with
his men was a ruse to arrest his top narcotics officers.

In the months since, affidavits filed in federal court have told of
officers kicking in doors with bogus warrants, committing robbery and
distributing drugs from county undercover vehicles.

Hege and Archdale Police Chief Gary Lewallen have been forced to defend the
integrity of their departments. Residents have questioned how such a thing
could happen.

And the Davidson County District Attorney's Office has had to dismiss drug
charges against 31 people because then-deputies Lt. Scott David Woodall,
34; Sgt. Douglas Edward Westmoreland, 49; and Lt. William Monroe Rankin,
32; played a significant role in the arrests.

Now all that remains is for the men to be sentenced in June.

The former deputies, along with ex-Archdale police Sgt. Chris Shetley, 35,
and Lexington residents Wyatt Kepley, 26, and Marco Aurelio Acosta Soza,
23, entered guilty pleas on some charges in exchange for others being
dropped. All six had previously pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Court Judge William L. Osteen said he is grappling with
whether the former officers should be held to a higher standard because
they were sworn to uphold the law or should be given credit for holding a
job that served the community.

Osteen compared the case to that of televangelist Jim Bakker, who was
convicted in the late 1980s of bilking followers out of millions of dollars.

"Is Jim Bakker worse because he was in a position of authority and let
people down, or do you account for people who did good because of Jim
Bakker?" Osteen said. As with the former officers, people put their trust
in Bakker, and he betrayed them, he said.

Rankin has been out of jail on bond since January and had a separate
hearing Thursday afternoon.

Thursday morning, Woodall, Westmoreland, Shetley, Kepley and Soza sat at an
L-shaped table dressed in Forsyth County Jail jumpsuits and shackles as
about 15 family members looked on.

Osteen questioned the men about their understanding of the plea agreements
and outlined the rights they were waiving by signing them.

"Each of you are pleading guilty to some of the counts of the indictment
that are a felony. Because it is a felony, you lose some civil rights. You
cannot own or possess a firearm. You cannot serve in public office or serve
on a jury," Osteen said.

The five men replied, "Yes, sir," when the judge asked if they understood.

Osteen repeated those words to Rankin later in the day, with the same response.

As part of the agreement, the six men can't appeal their sentences or enter
into any civil action against the government. Osteen also ordered the men
to forfeit all property and proceeds gained from drug sales.

As the men were led out by U.S. marshals, Shetley looked over his shoulder
and smiled at his family as they waved to him.

"We stand behind Chris all the way," said his mother, Joan Shetley.

Walt Jones, Shetley's attorney, said his client had a small role in the
crime and the plea agreement shows that.

"We're happy with the plea agreement," Jones said after the morning hearing.

Attorneys and family members of the other men declined to comment. Kepley
is the son of longtime Davidson County Commissioner Billy Joe Kepley.

Rankin will be sentenced June 26, and the five other men will be sentenced
June 14.