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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D