Ron Hewett pleads guilty

Former Brunswick County Sheriff Ron Hewett appeared in Superior Court this morning in Bolivia to face state charges.

Hewett pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement and pleaded no contest to one count of obstructing justice.

He received a four-month sentence, to be served concurrently with the 16-month federal sentence he is already serving.

Hewett's supporters were pleased he did not receive any additional time behind bars.

"The judge was very fair today," Hewett’s cousin Michael Clemmons said. "I think all of his friends and family who came out today, I'm going to see him in a little while at his house, we are all very happy with the judicial system today."

Following his release from prison, Hewett will be under supervised probation for three years.