Prosecutors urge stiff sentence for ex-NC sheriff

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Federal prosecutors said a former North Carolina sheriff should receive the maximum sentence when he is sentenced for obstructing an investigation of complaints of corruption and misconduct from some deputies.

The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a recommendation that former Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett serve the maximum 12 to 18 months after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice, The Star-News of Wilmington reported Friday.

Hewett is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Raleigh.

Hewett's defense, Doug Parsons, said in a separate filing that the judge should take into account the former lawman's "good character, remorse and the positive contributions he made to the people of Brunswick County."

Hewett had been sheriff for 14 years before pleading guilty in June to the charge. He was charged in May as a result of a federal investigation of alleged corruption in his office.

Some 22 current and former deputies accused Hewett of misconduct. They said he was intoxicated at crime scenes, required them to do landscape and construction work at his house and demanded that they campaign for him while on duty.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy said during a court hearing that Hewett harassed and intimidated deputies who were called to testify before a federal grand jury last summer.

U.S. Attorney George Holding said in June that Hewett tried to influence the deputies' grand jury testimony. An FBI agent praised the deputies who helped the investigation at the risk of being fired.

Duffy said the Hewett investigation started in 2006 after authorities became suspicious.

Hewett was suspended from office March 27 and indicted later on state charges of embezzlement and obstruction of justice. He resigned April 15.

Brunswick County District Attorney Rex Gore said he was waiting for the federal sentencing before he moved ahead on the state charges.

John William Ingram V was been named the new sheriff of Brunswick County.

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