NEW DRUG COURT HOPES TOUGH LOVE CRACKS ADDICTION

It's got a few minor kinks to work out, but Spartanburg County's drug court
is officially in business.

The state- and county-funded special court for select nonviolent
offenders saw its first action Tuesday, processing six guilty pleas in
about 90 minutes.

Drug court is intended to hear the cases of addicts who commit crimes
to get money to supply their habits. Defendants receive suspended
prison sentences in return for their guilty pleas. They must
participate in a rigorous 12- to 18-month rehabilitation program.

Among the requirements are gainful employment, therapy three nights a
week, random drug testing, attendance at drug court once a week and
participation in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

"I tell my clients this is one of the hardest things they'll ever have
to do," Assistant Public Defender Laura Sellers said after Tuesday's
inaugural court session. "I tell them, 'Unless you really want to get
off drugs, don't do this.' Straight time (in prison) is easier."

Tuesday's court session was held in Probate Judge Ray Eubanks'
courtroom, which is smaller than criminal and civil courtrooms on the
Spartanburg County courthouse's second floor. Seated at a table with
drug court personnel, Deputy Clerk of Court Carol Self recorded
dispositions personally as Eubanks passed sentences and then suspended
them.

The new drug court's first defendant was 39-year-old Aaron Keith
Yarbrough of Spartanburg, who faced petty larceny and burglary
charges. Sellers stood by his side.

Dressed in the familiar orange jumpsuit of a jail inmate, his feet
shackled and his hands cuffed, Yarbrough told Eubanks he had stolen a
lawn mower and bar stools. He promised to stick with drug court's
treatment program.

Hearing his first guilty plea in a new court, Eubanks sentenced
Yarbrough to five years in prison but forgot to add the words his
defendant longed to hear.

"Suspended upon successful completion of drug court, Your Honor?" said
a chuckling Sellers.

"Suspended upon successful completion of drug court," the judge
replied with a smile.

Eubanks said drug court personnel have not decided on an appropriate
way to coordinate the payment of restitution by defendants to victims.

Drawing on the experience of six other South Carolina counties which
operate drug courts, prosecutors do not expect to dispose of more than
a few dozen cases a year in the new court.

Drug court coordinator Tracy Hardy said after Tuesday's guilty pleas
that there is no set schedule for hearing pleas. But sentenced
defendants will be required to stand before Eubanks every Thursday
while treatment professionals and attorneys for the prosecution and
defense describe their progress.

The first treatment session was held Tuesday night, just hours after
the first batch of defendants received their suspended sentences.

"Defendants will have two to three surprise drug tests a week, and if
they fail even one of them, they may get some (prison) time," Sellers
said. "It's a very tough program."

Eubanks seemed to underscore that with his parting words to
Yarbrough.

"We expect your rigid adherence to all of our rules," the judge
said.