By Peter Biello
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/whqr/local-whqr-691401.mp3
Wilmington, NC – Suspended Sheriff Ronald Hewett entered the packed courtroom to a chorus of camera shutters. He sat at the defense table with his fingers laced and heavy bags under his eyes, half-smiling, half-frowning at some reporters lined against the side wall. His lawyers patted him on the shoulder on the way in and then Judge Ola Lewis read the charges.
"Sir, the Grand Jury has returned four bills of indictment, three of embezzlement by a public official, that's a class F Felony."
Hewett has been accused of using taxpayer money to pay Brunswick County Law Enforcement officers to do yardwork, guard his residence, and assist with his campaign for reelection. Hewett has also been accused of obstruction of justice by trying to get a relative off the hook for intimidating a witness.
Lewis told Hewett that if he pleads or is found guilty by a jury of his peers, he could face many years in prison.
These events leading to the indictments were also logged in a 33-page petition to remove Hewett from office, which started his temporary suspension late last week.
Hewett's lawyer Doug Parsons says a weekend isn't enough time to review the 33-pages and hours of recorded conversations and asked the judge for 120 days for preparation.
"All we're asking in your honor, in light of the voluminous material that was served upon us, we need adequate time and opportunity to prepare."
Brusnwick County District Attorney Rex Gore argued that the residents of Brunswick County said 120 days was too long. In the end the judge allowed a continuation until May 5th, at which time she says the court will assess whether there's been enough time to prepare. Then court adjourned.
Outside the courtroom, Lou Smith says she's pleased with the outcome.
"I've learned an awful lot. Not just in the last few days. But things I've heard for a long time and thought, no that's not true. But now I'm seeing the other side.
Smith says Hewett had promised to investigate her son Bryan's murder. That was 14 years ago. The murder still has not been solved.
"In the beginning I trusted him and I believed everything he said. 'We're gonna not leave any stone unturned.' And that's not the case. And it's not just my son's case."
In the petition to remove him from office, witnesses reported seeing Hewett intoxicated at several crime scenes, including the 2005 murder of Kendrick Sparrow. Hewett has also been accused of sexually harassing female employees, making derogatory racial remarks against a black employee, and letting his son use county cars.
Then last summer some employees began recording conversations with Hewett. In one conversation, Hewett brags about denying promotions to some employees because they did not attend his Christmas party.
"If you ain't got the care to come to our Christmas dinner, don't you dare, don't you dare recommend nobody that won't even come to my damn dinner where we sit down and break bread together. Do you blame me?" Hewett says.
In another recording made in August of last year, Captain Kevin Holden recorded an intoxicated Hewett. That was the summer the federal government began its investigation of Hewett, requesting campaign finance documents stretching back to 2002.
"I know you are down, I'm trying to bring you back up," Holden says to Hewett.
"There ain't no bringing me back up," says Hewett. "I'm looking for a bank robbery in [expletive] progress. That's what I want."
Holden asks, "For what?"
"I can't tell you that." Hewett replies.
The petition states that Hewett had instructed his subordinates to ignore his phone calls after ten o'clock at night, because he has to mix alcohol and a sleep-aid Ambien to sleep. Eddie Caldwell with the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association says he has not seen something like this in recent memory. In an emailed statement, Caldwell says the situation is unfortunate.
Brunswick County Commissioner Bill Sue says he's taken aback by this turn of events.
"I've known him since he's first become sheriff. And this was a surprise to me and I'll just stop at that."
Sue says if Hewett is declared unfit to serve as Sheriff, the Democratic Party must nominate a replacement. If the Democrats don't nominate anyone, Brunswick County Commissioners must decide who fills the position.
The Commissioners will meet this evening for a briefing on today's events.
Read the 33-page petition here.
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