Pubdate: Thu, 06 Dec 2012
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Justin Berton
Page: C3

EX-HEAD VICE COP CRIES, SWEATS AS HE PLEADS GUILTY

The former leader of an elite Contra Costa County antinarcotics squad 
cried and broke into an excessive sweat in a federal courtroom 
Wednesday as he pleaded guilty to stealing drugs from evidence lockers.

Norman Wielsch, 51, also admitted that while on the job as one of the 
East Bay's top vice cops, he robbed prostitutes of at least $10,000 
in cash and electronics and illegally arrested a teenager in an 
effort to "scare him straight."

A federal judge in Oakland will sentence the former lawman in 
February. Wielsch's attorney hopes the admissions will result in a 
sentence of as few as 10 years, while federal guidelines recommend a 
14- to 17-year sentence. A judge has wide discretion on the term.

Wielsch, who is said to suffer from a neurological disorder that 
affects his nerve endings, remained composed for most of the 
hour-long proceeding.

But after an assistant U.S. attorney read the five counts from a 2011 
indictment to which he agreed to plead guilty, Wielsch burst into a 
sweating jag that caused him to furiously wipe his brow and neck with 
tissues. His attorney, Michael Cardoza, told U.S. Magistrate Judge 
Kandis Westmore the outbreak was the result of Wielsch's health 
condition, and not the magnitude of the hearing.

A contrite-sounding Wielsch offered a lengthy apology to law 
enforcement agents and residents of Contra Costa County. He said he 
was ashamed that his actions "tarnished the badge" and brought shame 
upon his family.

"We did a lot of good," he said of his former outfit, the Central 
Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team. "Until we did these 
stupid things."

Prosecutors said that in late 2010 and early 2011 Wielsch, along with 
then-private investigator Christopher Butler, 51, stole at least 20 
pounds of marijuana and 3 pounds of methamphetamine from police 
evidence lockers. The U.S. attorney's office valued the amount of 
stolen drugs at from $30,000 to $70,000.

The duo sold the drugs to one of Butler's former employees, who 
ultimately went to authorities and agreed to video-record Wielsch and 
Butler during a drug transaction.

Wielsch also admitted that he and Butler, who is serving an 
eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in September, had 
staged the arrest of a 19-year-old Danville resident. Butler and 
Wielsch were hired by the teenager's mom, who suspected her son was 
dealing drugs and wanted him "scared straight." According to 
prosecutors, Wielsch handcuffed the teenager and searched his home 
before releasing him.

Additionally, Wielsch confessed that he and Butler had robbed 
prostitutes who worked out of hotel rooms. Prosecutors said Butler 
would knock on the hotel room door and Wielsch would "push his way 
through" with his badge displayed. Once inside, the pair would steal 
cash and cell phones. Wielsch admitted they had also taken a computer 
in one incident.

"I'm sorry," Wielsch said of the robberies. "I don't even believe I did this."

Wielsch waved to his family before U.S. marshals took him into custody.

Outside the courtroom, Cardoza said his client still did not 
understand his own motives for crossing from one side of the law to the other.

"What I hope some people remember," Cardoza said, "is that Norm 
Wielsch served the public honorably for a number of years. And then 
he did go bad, and there's no denying that."
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