A former New Hanover County sheriff's lieutenant who was in charge of the department's vice and narcotics division has pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related charges.Area media outlets report 41-year-old Joseph LeBlanc pleaded guilty Monday, more than a year after he was fired from the sheriff's office.LeBlanc was indicted in December on 122 counts. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including embezzlement, obtaining property by false pretenses and forgery.The judge gave LeBlanc from 56 months to 86 months in prison on four of the charges and given a suspended sentence for the remaining charges. The judge also said he would recommend work-release for LeBlanc.Prosecutors said LeBlanc had been stealing evidence from the county for two years.

A former New Hanover County sheriff's lieutenant who was in charge of the department's vice and narcotics division has pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related charges.

Area media outlets report 41-year-old Joseph LeBlanc pleaded guilty Monday, more than a year after he was fired from the sheriff's office.


LeBlanc was indicted in December on 122 counts. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including embezzlement, obtaining property by false pretenses and forgery.

The judge gave LeBlanc from 56 months to 86 months in prison on four of the charges and given a suspended sentence for the remaining charges. The judge also said he would recommend work-release for LeBlanc.

Prosecutors said LeBlanc had been stealing evidence from the county for two years.