Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jul 2003
Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC)
Copyright: 2003 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: David Ingram

EX-SHERIFF'S DEPUTY FACES A DRUG CHARGE

Davidson officer is the fifth charged in past 18 months

A Davidson County sheriff's deputy was fired earlier this month after a King
police officer arrested her on a felony drug charge - the fifth member of
the Davidson County Sheriff's Office to face criminal charges in the past 18
months.

According to police warrants, Maureen Cleary Williams tried to forge a
prescription for a controlled substance June 27 at an Eckerd drug store in
King.

After an investigation, she was charged July 10 with one count of obtaining
a controlled substance by fraud, a felony.

The drug is not named in the warrants.

Williams, 37, of 1220 Mount Olive Road in King was released on a written
promise to appear in Stokes District Court on Aug.25.

Williams was fired from the Davidson County Sheriff's Office on July 11,
according to county records. She had worked there since Oct. 26, 1997, and
was earning an annual salary of $30,561.

Sheriff Gerald Hege, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, has
final authority on all personnel decisions in the office.

In June 2002, another deputy, Sgt. Denise Crabtree, was fired after being
charged in Guilford County with driving while impaired and vandalism.

Three other deputies were arrested in December 2001 in connection with a
drug-distribution ring.

Lt. Douglas Edward Westmoreland, Lt. David Scott Woodall and Sgt. William
Rankin, a police sergeant from Archdale and two other men who were not
involved with law enforcement, were charged after an eight-month
investigation.

The three former Davidson deputies are now serving prison terms.

The former deputies broke into houses, issued fake search warrants and
intimidated suspects to get cocaine, steroids and marijuana.
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