By Staff
punishment was too lenient
(This editorial originally appeared in the Star-News of Wilmington.)
Maybe the sum of money Ronald Hewett embezzled from Brunswick County taxpayers was relatively small, but his crime was not minor. Four months, to be served concurrently with a federal sentence for obstructing justice, is just too lenient.
In a deal with Brunswick County District Attorney Rex Gore, the former sheriff pleaded guilty Oct. 13 to three counts of embezzlement and “no contest” to one count of obstruction of justice.
For that admission of guilt, and one non-admission, he was sentenced to four months in prison and fined $100 (he’d already repaid the taxpayers for the amount he embezzled). He’ll serve his time concurrently with a 16-month federal sentence for obstructing justice that’s related to the same crimes