THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110530
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 27 lines
Parole officer Jason Wheeler, convicted Tuesday of indecent exposure, was suspended with pay from his job Thursday morning.
Bill Poston, spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Correction, said Wheeler has been put on "investigatory placement status" while the department decides its final action. He will continue to collect his $21,812 annual salary while suspended.
Wheeler, 23, of Kitty Hawk, has worked in Dare County as a probation and parole officer since Nov. 6, 1995.
In testimony Tuesday in District Court, Carmen Ghee and Cindy Kingsbury, both of Kill Devil Hills, said Wheeler masturbated across from them at the pool at Colony IV motel in Kill Devil Hills.
Judge Allen W. Harrell of Wilson granted Wheeler a prayer for judgment, which puts the ruling aside as long as the defendant has no further violations.
Poston said he is uncertain when the Correction Department will make a decision about Wheeler's employment.
KEYWORDS: CONVICTION SEX CRIME by CNB