FIRST ON 3 UPDATE: Convicted former deputy back in court for drug case he investigated

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A former New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputy who pleaded guilty to dozen of drug crimes earlier this year is heading back to court this morning. But this time it’s because of his old job.

New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David says Joey LeBlanc, 42, is part of a drug case involving a habitual felon with a hearing this morning.

“Because Joey LeBlanc was one of the investigating officers, his involvement in the case is subject to pretrial motions this morning,” David told WWAY.

Today’s Superior Court calendar includes the start of trial for Charles Caulder, who faces charges for heroin, assault and habitual felon. Caulder was one of eight defendants who had drug charges dismissed by the DA in July 2013 because LeBlanc handled their cases. The District Attorney’s office has said it is still dealing with cases that may have been tainted by LeBlanc’s involvement. David said the defense in today’s case contends this is one of them.

The NC Department of Corrections moved LeBlanc to the Brunswick County Jail yesterday morning, where he was being held on a writ of habeas corpus for New Hanover County, according to a Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

In October LeBlanc, a former assistant commander of the sheriff’s Vice and Narcotics Division, pleaded guilty to dozens of crimes, including destroying evidence and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. A judge sentenced him to 56 to 84 months, but allowed him to participate in a work release program.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office fired LeBlanc in June 2013 after detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Unit noticed some irregularities with their assistant in command and reported them to the captain. Prosecutors said the 41-year-old had been stealing evidence from the county for two years.

Officials said in one case, Leblanc forged signatures from two judges more than 28 times to get drugs from a local pharmacy.

According to LeBlanc’s attorney, the father of three was hurt several times while working for the Sheriff’s Office and took opiate drugs to which he later became addicted. His attorney said LeBlanc’s addiction forced him to check himself into a rehab center in California.

LeBlanc was indicted in December 2013 for 28 counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, four counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, four counts of embezzlement, four counts of altering, destroying, stealing evidence, four counts of obstruction of justice, 21 counts of misdemeanor possession of schedule II controlled substance, 28 counts of trafficking, four to 13 grams, 14 counts of trafficking, 14 to 27 grams and one count of trafficking, 28 grams or more.