Former Rowan deputy charged

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 22, 2011

SALISBURY — A former deputy with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and his wife face multiple felony charges in connection with the sale of prescription pain pills.
Michael D. Hoffman, 40, and Kim Williams Hoffman, 46, both of 12100 U.S. 52, Rockwell, are charged with trafficking in opium, conspiracy to traffic in opium, possession with intent to sell and deliver illegal drugs, sale and delivery of illegal drugs, conspiracy to sell and deliver a controlled substance, and maintaining a vehicle to keep, store and sell a controlled substance.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office began investigating after getting a tip in March that Hoffman, who resigned from the Sheriff’s Office in September, was selling prescription pain pills, a press release said.
Detectives working undercover bought prescription pills from Hoffman and his wife on two separate occasions, the press release said. On Thursday, the detectives placed an order for a large amount of prescription painkiller Oxycodone.
The Hoffmans set up a meeting in Granite Quarry, where they sold 40 Oxycodone pills to the undercover officer, according to the press release. As the Hoffmans were leaving the area, deputies stopped their vehicle and took both into custody.
Hoffman is in the Rowan County jail under $300,000 bond. His wife was not listed as an inmate just after 4 p.m.