Drug Dog Can Search Lockers; Board May Target Other Areas
by SUSAN USHER
While a drug dog owned by the
Brunswick County Sheriffs Depart
ment will soon begin unannounced,
randomly-scheduled searches for
drugs in school locker areas,
Brunswick County Board of Educa-
Uon members are already consider
ing ways to expand the dog’s usage
on campuses.
Tile board adopted the locker
search policy unanimously Monday
on its second reading.
Under the policy, the dog will come
on campus only at the invitation of
the school’s or school system ad
ministration, and then its visit will be
unannounced. If the dog "alerts” on
a specific locker, it will be searched.
Any illegal materials seized during
the search will be handled as
evidence and turned over to law en
forcement officers. Roles taken by
school and law enforcement officials
in such searches are expected to be
clarified as the policy goes into ac
tual use.
While the policy became effective
Tuesday, no searches are expected
until after information on the plann
ed use of the dog has been, by motion
of board member/attomey Doug
Baxley, "disseminated by the widest
possible means” as recommended
earlier by board attorney Glen Peter
son.
While awaiting adoption of Uie
policy, the Brunswick County
Sheriffs Department has been tak
ing its drug dog. Buddy, on the
rounds of local schools by invitation.
So far he’s demonstrated his ability
to "sniff out” drugs in demonstra
tions at five schools, with visits to
North and West Brunswick tiigh
schools scheduled.
Board members and teachers at
Monday’s meeting discussed the
possibility of extending Buddy’s ter
ritory into other public areas of the
schools, such as gyms, bathrooms,
halls and classrooms—and perhaps
the school parking lot.
While the school-owned lockers
may be searched without a warrant if
the dog “alerLs” to them, Peterson
said search of a private vehicle could
not be made without a search war
rant. He added that Buddy’s alerting
to the vehicle would typically be suf
ficient probable cause for a law of
ficer to obtain a warrant.
However, he said, the law is not
clear on whether the dog can be
taken through a parking lot for that
(See DRUG DOG, Page 2-A)
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Twenty-sixth Year, Number 5
I»«7 TMI Muro
Jrolina, Thursday, December 10, 1987
25c Per Copy
38 Paqes Plus Insert
Willis Sentenced To 35 Years
In Prison And $250,000 Fine
SlAff PHOTO BY EOOiC SVViATT
On Parade In Shalloffe
Despite the chilly forecast, approximately 125 units and plenty of spectators
turned out Saturday morning forShallotte’s Christmas Parade. Above, Aman
da Reeves, daughter of Paul Wayne and Marilyn Reeves of Shallotte, cuts
cartwheels as part of the Dance Showcase entry. You’ll find the story and
more photo coverage in the B section on pages 6 and 7.
BY RAHN ADAMS
Shallotte businessman Alvin Bryan
Willis III, who admitted to having
been “a major cocaine dealer in
Brunswick County,” was sentenced
to 35 years in prison and was fined
$250,000 following a two-day sentenc
ing hearing that ended Tuesday in
Whiteville.
Also, a Greenville man—Petros
Tholiotis—pleaded guilty Tuesday to
three counts of conspiracy to traffic
in cocaine and is expected to be
sentenced in February.
Both men were among 32 defen
dants indicted on cocaine trafficking
charges in June by a special in
vestigative grand jur>’ in Brunswick
County.
Willis, 32, of Shallotte, was sentenc
ed by Judge Napoleon Barefoot Sr.
late Tuesday afternoon in Columbus
County Superior Court.
Willis, who pleaded guilty last
month to one count of conspiracy to
traffic in more than -100 grams of co
caine, received the statutory
minimum sentence and must serve
at least 14 years without benefit of
parole, said Special Assistant
District Attorney William Wolak.
William R. Shell, Willis’ attorney,
immediately gave notice that the
sentence would be appealed to the
N.C. Court of Appeals.
”1 felt the court’s decision was ob
viously erroneous,” Shell said after
the hearing, in reference to the
judge’s determination that Willis had
not providecTthe state with "substan
tial assistance” to justify a lighter
sentence.
In his closing remarks. Shell asked
that Barefoot “impose a reasonable
sentence” and suggested a 12-year
sentence on a "Class D” felony con
viction.
Shell pointed out that Willis was the
first witness to testify before the
Sunset Beach To Challenge
Withdrawal Of '12th Street'
BY DOUG RUTTER
Sunset Beach Council has decided to fight one of its
own members and four local property owners over rights
to an area the town had hoped to use for public beach ac
cess.
During Monday’s meeting, council decided to legally
challenge the recent withdrawal of 12th Street from
dedication to the town.
The four properties surrounding the street were
developed by council member Ed Gore. He said he re
quested the withdrawal "in following the wishes of the
property owners affected.”
At the November meeting. Gore informed council
members that the town would be unable to accept at least
part of a public beach acce.ss matching grant from the
N.C. Department of Natural Resources and Community
Development because of the land’s status.
The grant would have supplied the town with partial
funds to establish parking spaces and dune crossovers at
12th and 40th streets.
According to Town Attorney Mike Isenberg, the town
has 15 years from the time the property is platted in
which to open and use the street. If it is not opened within
the time limit, the developer has the option to withdraw it
from town dedication.
He said that while the property and street were
originally platted in 1958, additional plats were com
pleted in 1970 and 1975.
Isenberg said tliat although the original 15 years had
already passed, the courts may view the replatting as a
redcdication of the street to the town.
“If the town wants to challenge the withdrawal,” he
explained, "that would probably be the lx;st ba.s'is of
challenging it.”
He recommended that council meet in executive .se.s-
sion in the near future to decide how it wants to proceed
with the challenge.
Council member Minnie Hunt called Gore’s actions
"horrifying.”
I find it terribly ironic, Mr. Gore, that you were the
one who made the original motion to apply for these
grants,” she said.
Councilman Mary Griffith asked Gore, “Don’t you
think it would have been proper to have made your inten
tions known to the town?”
Gore replied that he had never been opposed to the
beach access grants, but that he was against creating a
public parking facility in an area set aside for residence.s.
According to John Youngblood, one of the "12th
Street” property owners present at tlie meeting, the
town's attempt to use the street as a public parking area
was “discriminatory.”
He added that the property owners were instructed
by their lawyer, Tim Sellers, not to say anything about
the withdrawn street before it could be well-documented
that the town had never used it.
Youngblood said it was withdrawn on Oct. 14 and that
pictures were taken as proof that the strip had never been
used as a road.
He also said the fact that the street would have been
used for seven parking spaces was "a token gesture at
best.”
It would not have helped the problem of limited park
ing at all, he said, and it just would have created pro
blems for the landowners.
Isenberg added that despite beach access signs in the
area, the street would have to be opened by the town and
used by the public for it to Ixjcomc a permanent town
roadway.
Youngblood concluded, "We will follow this thing
through to the limit. If we have it our way, it will stay as it
is forever.”
of
of
of
•special investigative grand jury on
Feb. 9, and that Willis had provided
information about “quite a number
of people” who were later also in
dicted on drug charges or are cur
rently being investigated.
Shell said Willis gave investigators
information on suspects Jack
Truesdale and Donna Truesdale,
both of Florida; James Cromartie of
Maryland; Tucker Gulley
Shallotte; Fotios Kamtsiklis
Greenville and Tholiotis—all
whom were indicted by the special in
vestigative grand jury in June.
But during the two-day hearing,
the prosecution maintained that
Willis had not “fully and truthfully
cooperated” with the .state.
In his closing argument. Wolak
said Willis’ as.sistance “must be
measured by the tenns” of Willis
plea agreement, in which he “agreed
to full3’ and truthfully cooperate with
the state."
"We s.iy the defendant has no*.
substuntia’y coonerated,” Wolak
said.
After the hearing, Wolak said he
felt that "the court rendered a very
proper judgment.”
Willis In Custody
Shortly after sentencing, Willis
was taken into custody by Brunswick
County Sheriff John C. Davis and was
transported to the Brunswick County
Jail.
Davis said late Tuesday that Willis
would be moved to Central Prison in
Raleigh no sooner than Thursday
(Dec. 10), pending the outcome of an
appeal bond hearing, which Davis
said he expected would also be held
this week.
“I wanted to give his family a
chance to visit with him tomorrow.”
Davis said Tuesday.
Willis had entered his guilty ^l^a
on the single conspiracy count Nov. 2
in Brunswick County Superior Court,
as part of a plea bargaining agree
ment dated Dec. 18, 1986, according
to testimony this week.
The plea agreement was made
almost six months before Willis was
indicted by the special investigative
grand jury on 12 counts each of con
spiracy to traffic and trafficking by
po.ssession of more than 4(W grams of
cocaine.
His sentencing hearing was con
tinued from the Nov. IG tenn of
Brunswick County Superior Court
and was scheduled for the 13th
District s next session of Superior
Court, which began Monday in
Whiteville.
Both Shell and Wolak described the
sentencing hearing as “unusual.”
“Tliis was the longest sentencing
hearing I’ve ever been involved with
in a drug case,” Wolak said. "From
that standpoint—the length—it is
very unusual, although it was very’
detailed.”
Much of the testimony in the two-
day hearing came from theSBI agent
who handled Willis’ case and from
Willis himself.
During lengthy testimony Monday,
the agent said Willis did not give in
vestigators “a true and accurate ac
count” of his drug dealings witli
various suspects.
Willis testified on his own behalf
much of Tuesday afternoon and
outlined his cooperation with the
state, saying he provided full and
truthful cooperation, although it was
“not all done at one time.”
Also, he testified concerning the
disposal of his assets, including the
$1.5 million dollar Resort Plaza shop
ping center in Shallotte, which was
seized by U.S. Marshals in
September.
The government maintains that the
shopping center was used to
facilitate drug trafficking.
Willis said he deeded his interest in
the property to his moUier, Elizabeth
Willis, after the SBI agent told him
how much prison time he faced, if
convicted.
The civil suit involving seizure of
the shopping center is pending in U.S.
Federal Court, and is being handled
separately from Willis’ criminal
case.
On Tuesday afternoon, 15 Shallotte
area residents appeared in court as
character witnesses for Willis.
 See THOLIOTIS, Page 2-A)
Lewellyn Declines Second Calabash Term
Despite a recent victory in the general election,
Pati I.ewellyn will not serve a se
cond consecutive term on the
Calabash Town Council.
Citing business and personal
reasons, she stepped down from
her post effective Monday.
In a letter to Mayor Doug Sim
mons, I.ewellyn said ii was im
possible for her to "devote the time
that will be necessary for this
council to continue the programs
initiated over the past two years.”
According to Brunswick County Elections Super
visor Lynda Britt, the choice of a repiacement is up to
the town council.
Uwellyn was re-elected with 34 write-in votes on
Nov. 3 after being elected to her first term in 1985. Of
the five council seat winners, she was the lowest vote-
getter.
Three former council members, Suzy Moore, Lin
da Roberts and Robert Weber, received fewer votes
and were not re-elected.
Incoming council member I.andis High said, "My
personal view is that I hate to see Pati go. She has done
a lot of good for this town, and she also has a lot of
valuable experience as a council member. It’s going to
be a loss to the town.”
Councilwoman I.ewellyn also said in the letter that
she will remain “very much concerned” about matters
facing Calabash and will "look forward to continued
progre.ss with the new town council.” She had no fur
ther comment.
Mayor Doug Simmons was out of town Monday and
Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
During l.eweUyn‘s tenure on the council, it worked
to obtain a town water system and made plans to
assess residents the cost of the system.
A majority of those elected to the board in
November have said thej' oppose the water .system
assessments and think the town should study the issue
of a water system some more.
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SUNSET BEACH plans to put up a legal fight for this The town had planned to use the street as a public park-
sandy ditch, which was 12th Street before it was ing area to improve its beach access. ^
withdrawn from town dedication a few months ago.
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