Former Sheriff's Deputy Gets Prison Time For Drug and Weapon Charges

Save

Posted: 8:03 PM Oct 6, 2008
Last Updated: 8:03 PM Oct 6, 2008

7 comments

A | A | A

A former Sheriff's Deputy must serve 18 months in prison for drug-dealing and weapons offenses.

The Charlotte Observer reported that a U.S. District Court judge in Charlotte sentenced 36-year-old Louis Balducci of Waxhaw on Monday. Balducci had pleaded guilty in April to two counts of selling the prescription painkiller Oxycodone and unlawful possession of silencers.

Balducci was a deputy from July 2006 until January 2008. He was on medical leave after he was injured in a car wreck in spring 2007.

More Stories
Hospital Worker Tests Positive For Swine Flu

Sheriff's Office: Fishermen Nab Thieves

Search For Missing Teen In Pamlico County Waters

NEW INFO: Survivor From Ocracoke Fireworks Blast In Fair Condition

UPDATE: Suspect In Greenville Double Murder Claims Innocence

Memorial Parade On Ocracoke Island

OFFICIALS: Husband And Wife Dead After Murder-Suicide

Overnight Shooting In Downtown Greenville

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:22 PM
For the third time, I'll try to post this. WITN, why report such a menial little story, just because the offender was a FORMER law enforcement officer. Again, I ask, do you research other offenders to see if they were ever employed as reporters? Why this double standard? It is obvious to me that you have a bias against law enforcement. WITN is an affiliate of NBC and even has a link to the infamously slanted and left wing controlled MSNBC. Your refusal to post my comments are extremely hippocritical. You posted an insulting and derogatory comment from DK, yet you refuse to post my reasonable comments which were NOT flaming . Your double standards are evident to me. Recently you had a story which concentrated on whether or not an officer violated policy when a suspect escaped from him. Why not report his initiative and hard work in developing a robbery case against a trespass offender? Why not report the national story of the officer who saved a woman from a burning vehicle?

Posted by: Citizen Location: North Carolina on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:19 PM
WITN, I guess you can clearly see that it's a no win situation with some people. Regardless of what you do some people are never satisfied. So you continue to make the decisions on how you feel about the stories that you are reporting. If they don't like it, they're not obligated to read them. WITN, keep up the good work!

Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:15 AM
So it is safe to say that for a WHOLE year he was a Deputy Sheriff? I am not saying that he was a saint by no means but I have to agree with all of the other posters and ask WHY was his "former" profession even brought up? Was he accused of selling drugs while working? I could see the relevance then! I can already see that WITN leans more to the liberal side of things instead of using some common sense! Another black eye for Law Enforcement Officers across the state when there is no DIRECT relation with this guy's crimes and being a LEO..way to go guys.

Posted by: WOLFGANG Location: CHOCOWINITY on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:27 AM
I wonder how much $$$$$ he made selling drugs. Good ? for the IRS. If that was any other citizen who got convicted of the same crime. He or She would be doing 10-20 years in prision. He is a Sheriff's Deputy he should have known better he was hired to protect and serve. Only 18 months for dealing drugs figures. A guess the court protects there own. Talk about above the law this is a fine example.

Posted by: DK on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Why do some cops feel like they have to act like a dictator when they pull you over for something stupid?

Posted by: Noneya Location: IBX on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Yes, I agree with On Their Side and VBush. I dare WITN 7 to do an article on something a cop has done heroic. You guys break the mold of the normal news media and do a story on a heroic cop !! I dare you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please send us the information on your story idea. desk@witn.com

Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:05 AM
I agree with 'On Their Side', but it is completely disheartening to hear about law enforcement involved in the very crimes they are charged to protect the public from. It is understood that these are the 'bad apples' and every good group has it's 10%, but I think that when you represent the law and get convicted of doing a crime, the punishment should be twice what anyone else gets. If we can't trust the guy with the badge, who can we trust? That badge represents more than just someone who went to a training academy and got a job. When you sign up to 'serve and protect' you are automatically holding yourself to a higher standard, and should act in that fashion. I don't like seeing a badge and having to wonder if the man or woman wearing it is really one of the 'good guys'.

Posted by: On Their Side Location: East NC on Oct 6, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Hey, WITN reporters ... you obviously enjoy writing headlines and articles about law enforcement officers who are caught doing wrong. Why don't you put the same effort into finding and publishing stories about officers who do heroic things and distinguish themselves with bravery and valor and service?

Most Viewed
1.	NEW INFO: Survivor From Ocracoke Fireworks Blast In Fair Condition
2.	UPDATE: Suspect In Greenville Double Murder Claims Innocence
3.	State Trooper Fired After Drunken Driving Arrest
4.	UPDATE: McNair's Death Ruled Homicide
5.	Search For Missing Teen In Pamlico County Waters
6.	Coroner: Teen 5th Killed By Apparent Serial Killer
7.	Overnight Shooting In Downtown Greenville
8.	UPDATE: Children At Local Nudist Resort
9.	Man Drags SC Officer During Stop
10.	Roommate Of Suspect Charged With Rape Of Four Year-Old Talks To WITN

Services Held For Victims; Reward Offered In Case
746 Comments

NEW INFO: Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS Chief Speaks Out
319 Comments

Civil Rights Leaders Raise Concerns Over Race Issues Following Shooting
211 Comments

NEW INFO: Murder Warrant In Deadly 100+ MPH Crash
178 Comments

UPDATE: Suspect In Greenville Double Murder Claims Innocence
121 Comments

Report: Sarah Palin Announces Resignation
108 Comments

Hey, read the rules!

Click one of the pictures below to see more or to upload your own photos and videos.

	CarSoup Search inventory from local dealers and private sellers.

	Rental Guide Video tours to help you find your next apartment.

	Double Dollar Deals Save 50% from local merchants.

	Classifieds THE place to buy and sell items. Most ads free.

	Experts Got a question? Ask Eastern Carolina's Experts.

	Business Break Two minutes of info from local businesses.

	Attorneys On Call Free legal information on a variety of topics.

	Video Home Tours Tour Eastern Carolina homes from your computer.