4 EX-OFFICERS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES

Arraignment takes place in U.S. court -- trial is set for March

Three former Davidson County deputies and a former Archdale police officer
pleaded not guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to charges of
conspiracy to distribute drugs, extortion and civil-rights violations.

Federal and state investigators allege that the men and two others were
involved in a drug-distribution ring that sold cocaine, marijuana, steroids
and Ecstasy.

The four arrested on the charges on Dec. 12 are: former Davidson County
Lts. David Scott Woodall, 34, Douglas Edward Westmoreland, 49, and former
Sgt. William Monroe Rankin, 32; and former Archdale police Sgt. Christopher
Shetley, 35.

Wyatt Kepley, 26, and Marco Aurelio Acosta-Soza, 23, who are not in law
enforcement, were also arrested.

The charges of extortion and civil-rights violations were added Jan. 25 as
part of a continuing investigation of the officers and their associates. At
that time, prosecutors also charged Kepley with possession of a firearm by
a felon. Because of a drug conviction in San Diego in September 2001,
Kepley was not allowed to own a gun. But he had one when he was arrested,
according to an indictment.

Like the other defendants, Kepley pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Woodall, Westmoreland and Rankin are accused of executing fake search
warrants, according to an indictment.

Woodall, Westmoreland and former Archdale police Sgt. Christopher Shetley,
35, are also accused of intimidating suspects. According to the indictment,
Woodall and Westmoreland forced a man to give them $2,500 in October 2001.
Shetley committed a similar offense in October 2000 by taking more than
$2,600 from another man, according to the indictment.

Investigators also allege that Woodall, who was the leader of the group,
broke into a home in Rowan County on Nov. 2, threatened the residents with
a gun and took about $600 from the home.

Attorneys for the defendants said that it is standard procedure to plead
not guilty during an arraignment. The attorneys will now have an
opportunity to review the government's evidence against their clients, said
Walter L. Jones of Greensboro. Jones is representing Shetley.

"As the case comes together, we'll make a firm decision how to go forward,"
Jones said.

The men are scheduled to stand trial in March, prosecutors said.