Sixth Of Ongoing Series

SUCCESSES - AND ONE SETBACK - IN DRUG COURT

Addict Has A Week In Jail To Mull Things Over

Note: The following article is the sixth in a series regarding the creation
of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Court Program recently implemented in
Pahrump. Because drug court is designed to treat addiction rather than
punish users as is done in the criminal courts, the identities of
participants will be altered for purposes of confidentiality; their
photographs will not be printed.

There was a little something for everybody when drug court convened Tuesday
at 4 p.m. Judge Robert Lane encouraged one meth addict to hang in there,
three were praised for their early successes, one was accepted into the
strict and innovative program, and one was sent to jail for a week to mull
things over.

Samantha is her fictional name and on May 21, the day she was accepted by
the court and given the opportunity to beat her addiction, Samantha told
the judge she wanted her babies back more than anything in the world.

With the apparent exception of using methamphetamine and other drugs.

Samantha's performance her first week was dismal, though not unexpected
according to those who work face to face with addicts. The pretty mother of
four young children - three are in the care of the state and one is with
relatives in California - Hill twice tested positive for drugs in the
random urine drops participants must submit each week.

She made one of three required counseling sessions, though Samantha was
substantially late for her appointment and failed to appear for the other
two. She attended one of three mandatory meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous
or a similar program.

"You're not doing too well," Lane said. "What can we do to help?"

Hill said it would be an asset if her counseling sessions were scheduled in
advance. "I have a hard time making appointments," she said. The answer was
not what Lane was looking for.

"What can we do to help you quit using meth?" asked the judge. "Do you need
to find another place to live?" The implication was obvious. Hill resides
or associates with meth users, and that is one of the prohibitions of the
program. "We'll give you a week in jail," said the judge.

Hill was not surprised and readily accepted the judge's ruling. She will be
the second drug court participant to go to jail as a sanction for failure.
John, the program's inaugural participant, has already spent one week in
detention for failing to meet the conditions of drug court, and is now
doing another stint, this one for two weeks, after again violating drug
court policy. He'll get another bite at the apple on Monday.

As an aside, Lane on Tuesday warned participants that any time in jail
imposed on them in drug court does not apply to the potential prison
sentences hanging over their heads in the Fifth District Court should they
fail the program. The rewards for success, on the other hand, are equally
significant. Upon graduation, a defendant is clean and sober, and the
felony drug-related charges go away for good. Graduates, in other words,
get a new lease on life.

For participants Greg, Fred, Joe, and Vicki, Tuesday's session was much
more rewarding than that experienced by Samantha. Greg's pregnant fiancee,
Cathy, is a volunteer participator, but she did not appear in court on Tuesday.

Greg and Cathy tested positive for meth a couple of weeks ago. Greg was
ordered to work 12 hours of community service, which he accomplished, while
Cathy was directed to spend four hours last week working in a Las Vegas
hospital with babies born addicted to meth and or crack cocaine.

Greg said Cathy was having trouble finding a facility that would allow her
to work with the infants, and she was in Las Vegas Tuesday seeking out a
potential source. For Greg himself, he met most of the conditions of drug
court, with the exception of attending AA meetings.

Greg said his and Cathy's unborn child appears to be healthy according to a
recent visit to their doctor, but he admitted he remains frightened. In an
earlier session, Greg said he and Cathy used shortly after she became
pregnant, and he was certain the baby was conceived while the two were
under the influence of the drug. "I'm still scared," he said. The couple
used again in Greg's first week in the program.

One of the apparently brighter participants in drug court, Greg was
encouraged by Lane not to get fed up with the agenda. "You have to spend at
least a year in the program," said Lane. "You can't skip ahead, so be
patient." Greg, said Lane, might let his intellect and favorable physical
attributes prevent his own success. "You have a lot of advantages, but
don't get bored," said the judge.

"This is not a destination," reminded prosecutor Pete Knight. "This is a
journey."

Now in the second week of his own expedition, Fred continues to do well. He
has made all of his meetings, counseling sessions, and each of his four
drug tests has come back negative.

Fred said he was upset to have his drug counselor changed, but
unfortunately a mix-up at the state level has temporarily left counselor
Pam Laub off of the drug court team until her certification documentation
is received.

"I liked Pam," Fred said. "I was grooving with her ... I'm on the road to
recovery but drastic changes could cause me to stumble."

Lane indicated to Fred that while the defendant might consider disruptions
in his life as an excuse to use meth, the court likely wouldn't agree since
the whole idea behind the program is to fight the disease of addiction.
Dirty urine tests can and will be sanctioned to one degree or another, as
Lane has demonstrated on three occasions.

Incidentally, drug program lasts a minimum of one year and a maximum of
three years, and each time a participant fails in some manner, he or she
stands the chance of being sanctioned - and that could mean going back to
square one.

Fred hasn't stumbled, though. In fact he announced an ambitious personal
goal when he told the judge he wants to be the first to finish the program.
"That's the brass ring," Fred said. "I want to be a drug court legend."

The comment brought laughter from those in attendance, but Fred still has a
significant problem. His wife is up on similar charges in Judge John Davis'
courtroom, and to date she has not been admitted into drug court; Lane has
refused to speak to her because of her status as a defendant in another
judge's courtroom. There are concerns Fred's chances to succeed could be
compromised if his wife does not participate alongside him.

And then there is Vicki. Stooped and appearing 30 years older than she
probably is due to a chronic back condition, Vicki also had a good week.
Her tests were clean and she made each of her appointments, though she was
late for one of them.

She said she didn't really care for one of the AA meetings she attended. "I
got tired of hearing everybody try to top the other guy," she said. Knight
made it clear the meetings have to be attended regardless of how a
participant personally regards any value they have.

Vicki requires pain medication for her back - she has undergone spinal
reconstruction - and the drug court team is aware of her condition. A
special exception has been made for Vicki since one of the provisions
mandate a participant can not use narcotics, even those prescribed by a
physician. Still, any variation in the level of drugs in her system - and
what those drugs are - would be detected.

Wearing street clothes for the first time in awhile and smiling from ear to
ear when praised by Pastor Stan Goldsby and Lane, 21-year-old Joe has
perhaps exhibited the greatest commitment to the program. Out of jail for a
week and living in a residence owned by Goldsby, pastor of Church of the
Harvest, Joe has, quite literally, talked the talk and walked the walk.
Last week he told Lane he would meet the conditions of drug court, six days
later he proved his determination.

"I've heard wonderful things about you," Lane said to Joe, whom he released
from jail last week and turned over to Goldsby so the man would have a
place to live.

Formerly homeless, Goldsby, who has dedicated his life to God by working
with those who live lives less fortunate, is the reason Joe was released
from custody May 24 on theft charges related to his addiction. And as
Goldsby has lent a hand to Joe, it seems Joe, who was also homeless until
he was ordered let go by Lane, has helped the pastor.

"This young man makes me proud to work with the homeless," Goldsby told the
court. "He has shown initiative." That could be an understatement. Joe has
walked close to eight miles early each morning to meet with his probation
officer - the morning meetings are another condition placed on
participants. He walked or rode a bicycle to three AA meetings and he has
voluntarily become involved in Church of the Harvest and its youth choir.
He has passed his drug tests, but has been unable to attend counseling
sessions due to the temporary absence of Laub.

"This young man has shown me he is determined to succeed," Goldsby said. He
has worked on the ROCK STEADY youth center Goldsby is building at his
Church of the Harvest - to the point of earning a blister or two on his
hands. "He doesn't ask for nothing," Goldsby added. "We've had lengthy
discussions and I believe he will be a success story. He knows he's getting
a second chance."

Lane said he was "inspired" by Joe's early success, and offered the young
man a handshake, encouraging him to keep up the good work.

Bob and Laura attended their first drug court on Tuesday on a referral out
of Las Vegas. Bob was accepted into the program and his wife could be next
week, once counselor Bill McGowan evaluates her.

Lane said he had concerns about a husband and wife going to the same
counselor. Similar questions arose when Greg and Cathy were accepted into
the program, and will undoubtedly be addressed a third time if Fred's wife
is chosen to participate. "They told us to do this or go to jail," Bob said.

"You might rather do that," Lane replied before explaining the harsh terms
of drug court. The comment brought laughter from those in attendance,
except from Samantha, who was about to be booked into the Pahrump jail,
where her husband is also detained.

The drug court team hopes the young woman uses the seven days in stir to
think about her addiction, and whether she really wants her four children
back, as she swore she did more than anything in the world, just one week
earlier.