Pubdate: Tue, 11 Oct 2005
Source: Star-News (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Ken Little

EX-LELAND OFFICER MAY ENTER A PLEA

Indications are that a former Leland police officer charged earlier this
year with trafficking in cocaine and obstructing justice will not stand
trial.

Brett H. Hobbs, 27, is scheduled to appear in Brunswick County Superior
Court on Nov. 14. The event is described on the court calendar as a plea.

Neither prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Chris Thomas nor defense
lawyer Roy Trest would discuss the case Monday. Mr. Hobbs could not be
reached for comment.

Mr. Hobbs, a former corporal with the Leland Police Department, was charged
May 5 following an investigation by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office,
State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
He resigned from his job in June and is taking classes at Cape Fear
Community College.

Mr. Hobbs served as departmental K-9 officer, SWAT Team commander and
previously as a narcotics officer after joining the Leland police force in
April 2002. He remains free on $500,000 secured bond.

If convicted on the drug trafficking charge, Mr. Hobbs could serve up to 14
1/2 years in prison, court officials said. The terms of a possible plea
offer are not known.

Before he was a police officer, he is accused of associating with a drug
gang whose members moved at least 100 pounds of uncut cocaine from Mexico in
a roundabout way to Brunswick, New Hanover and Columbus counties in 1999 and
2000.

The Hobbs case has other legal implications. As of this summer, the
Brunswick County District Attorney's Office had thrown out about 25 criminal
cases initiated by arrests made by Mr. Hobbs in 2005, including at least
five felonies.

Mr. Hobbs was on paid administrative leave before he resigned from the
force.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh