Brunswick County finance director suspended after drug charge

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BOLIVIA, N.C. -- Brunswick County's finance director was suspended without pay after she was charged with possession of marijuana, which followed her third DWI charge in 10 years.

Lithia Brooks, 52, announced six weeks ago that she would retire next month after she got her third driving-while-impaired charge in 10 years. But county officials took action Monday after she was charged Saturday night with marijuana possession.

She had been Brunswick's finance director since June 1986 and was making $94,737.

Brooks was charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, after Brunswick County sheriff's deputies searched a house on Oak Island.

Sheriff Ron Hewett said the department's drug enforcement unit went to the house after receiving complaints about drug sales.

"It was a typical complaint that we followed through with that ended up with not-so-typical results," he said.

During the search of the premises, Hewett said, a marijuana cigarette and drug paraphernalia were found in Brooks' car.

Also charged was Theodore Hiatt, 29, who lived at the beach house. He was charged with possession with intent to sell marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Monday County Manager Marty Lawing suspended Brooks without pay. County Attorney Huey Marshall said the decision would be reviewed as information became available.

Brooks' first appearance in District Court on Saturday's drug charges is scheduled for Dec. 7. Brooks is then scheduled to appear court Dec. 14 on her latest DWI charge.

Brooks was found guilty of DWI in a 1993 case and not guilty in a 1995 incident.

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