3 plead guilty to drug charges

Four of 28 suspected drug dealers targeted in a yearlong investigation appeared in Waynesboro court Wednesday, but a judge sentenced only one to prison.

Sterling Randall Wade, 29, of Waynesboro, pleaded guilty to three counts of cocaine distribution, for which he will serve two years.

Waynesboro police and the WASSP Task Force employed a confidential informant to make three controlled buys from Wade in February and March, Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Ajemian said in court.

Before being handcuffed and taken into custody, Wade apologized to the community and his family. After the hearing, relatives said Wade is a good person who made a mistake.

Authorities working “Operation Crackdown” arrested 21 of 28 suspected drug dealers in an Oct. 14 sweep, arresting some fugitives in the following weeks. Waynesboro police and the WASSP Task Force spent more than $16,000 on street-level purchases of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, meth and firearms.

But prosecutors moved Oct. 31 not to prosecute 15 suspects after a confidential informant “fell apart” under questioning. Some community members in targeted areas said police went after drug users, not high-level dealers, and rattled neighborhoods with bold, public arrests.

Also in court Wednesday, a tearful Vanessa R. Martin, 37, of Waynesboro, pleaded guilty to one charge of distribution of a Schedule II drug in a confidential informant’s purchase of 10 hydromorphone pills from her in July.

Martin, a mother of four facing a separate drug charge set for grand jury, remains free on bond for distribution of the morphine derivative.

A distribution charge was reduced to a possession charge against Boyd Jay Devoe, 41, of Waynesboro, and the case was taken under advisement. Devoe remains on probation.

Terrance Shawn Vest, 30, who faces two cocaine distribution charges as part of the sting and three other felony charges, did not plead Wednesday. Three separate jury trials were scheduled.

Eight of 13 drug sweep suspects so far have pleaded guilty. Two received jail time, two were given suspended sentences pending completion of diversion and detention programs, two were given probation sentences and two await sentencing.