Pubdate: Wed, 30 Oct 2002
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Millard K. Ives
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

JURY FINDS WINNABOW MAN GUILTY IN ASSAULT ON OFFICER

BOLIVIA - A Winnabow man was sentenced Tuesday to 19 to 26 years in prison 
after being found guilty of various assault charges from a shootout with 
Brunswick County sheriff's deputies during a drug raid last year.

A Superior Court jury found 25-year-old Paul Pelham guilty of assault with 
a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury, three 
counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer and four drug 
charges.

He was found not guilty of the most serious charge against him, attempted 
first-degree murder. A conviction on that charge could have pushed his 
sentence up to 45 years, according to an official with the District 
Attorney's Office.

Steven Lanier, the deputy shot during the raid, said he lost much of the 
use of his right hand and no longer can serve on the department's Emergency 
Response Team.

"The things I used to do, I will never be able to do again. This has turned 
my life around 100 percent," said Mr. Lanier, shortly before asking Judge 
Jim Ammons to give Mr. Pelham the maximum sentence.

Mr. Pelham and Mr. Lanier played high school football together.

The defense had contended throughout the trial that Mr. Pelham began firing 
after men rushed into his home on Oct. 5 of last year. Mr. Pelham was 
unaware they were deputies on a drug raid, the defense said.

Mr. Pelham was shot in the left arm during the raid. Defense Lawyer Calvin 
Chandler argued unsuccessfully Tuesday that Mr. Pelham should receive a 
minimal sentence because of his serious injury.

Mr. Pelham also was sentenced for shooting at other narcotics officers. He 
was found not guilty of selling drugs to a paid drug informant on Oct. 3, 2001.

Lavar Atari Thomas, a roommate of Mr. Pelham, also received various assault 
and drug charges from the raid. His trial was scheduled to start this week, 
but had to be delayed after
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