Pubdate: Thu, 21 Nov 2002
Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/504
Note: The Journal does not publish letters from writers outside its daily 
home delivery circulation area.
Author: Paul Garber, Journal Reporter
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1066/a01.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

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. 
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