Pubdate: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC) Copyright: 2007 Fayetteville Observer Contact: http://www.fayobserver.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150 Author: Greg Barnes EX-ROBESON DEPUTY TO BE JAILED RALEIGH -- Former Robeson County deputy Steven Lovin was led away in handcuffs Tuesday after a federal judge revoked his pre-trial release for contacting witnesses. A day earlier, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle accepted a guilty plea from another former Robeson County deputy -- Billy Wayne Strickland. Strickland, who had been Sheriff Ken Sealey's chief of operations as of Friday, pleaded guilty Monday to satellite TV piracy. Strickland and Lovin are among about a dozen former deputies charged in a four-year state and federal investigation called Operation Tarnished Badge. More arrests are expected. In Lovin's case, SBI Agent Mark Brewington testified that Lovin contacted four potential witnesses -- a violation of Boyle's July pre-trial release order. Brewington said Lovin called Grayland Locklear, a former Robeson County detective, on several occasions in January and asked him about files pertaining to a fire at Hubert Ray Locklear's home. Lovin and another former deputy, Roger Taylor, are charged with burning the home during a drug raid. According to Brewington's testimony, Grayland Locklear said Lovin told him, "My life is on the line here. I've got kids." Locklear told Brewington, "It appeared by Mr. Lovin's demeanor on the phone that he may be desperate," Brewington testified. Brewington said Grayland Locklear repeatedly told Lovin that he didn't want to get involved in the investigation. Brewington said Herman Madden, a former Robeson County sheriff's employee, videotaped a 17-minute conversation he had with Lovin on Jan. 24. Brewington said Lovin requested the meeting to talk about the case. Investigators tried to show the tape in court, but the sound wouldn't work. Brewington said Madden gave the tape to investigators a day after it was made using home surveillance equipment. Brewington said Lovin also talked with former sheriff's Maj. Mark Locklear and with Michael Britt, a former sheriff's employee. Under cross examination from Lovin's lawyer, Michael R. Ramos, Brewington acknowledged that the defense never received a copy of the prosecution's witness list or was told who might be targets of interest. Brewington also acknowledged that none of the witnesses was threatened or asked to lie to the government. Boyle admonished Ramos for using an angry tone in his voice in the courtroom. The judge said Operation Tarnished Badge has already led to 11 guilty pleas from former deputies and could lead to more. Boyle said the court cannot allow a breach of its rules and ordered Lovin held in jail pending further hearings in his case. In Strickland's case, Boyle delayed sentencing, as he has with other former deputies who have accepted guilty pleas. Strickland faces a maximum five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for pirating satellite TV signals. Strickland and Randal Patterson, who resigned Jan. 31, were two of the sheriff's highest-ranking deputies. Patterson, who was the chief of detectives, has not been charged in the investigation. Strickland has agreed to assist the government in its case against Taylor. Taylor and Lovin are charged in a 12-count federal indictment with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal drug-seizure money, arson and giving drugs to confidential informants. In July, former deputy James Owen Hunt pleaded guilty to stealing about $160,000 in money seized during drug interdictions along Interstate 95. Hunt testified that he and Lovin split the money. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek