GRANDMOTHER GETS 3 MONTHS FOR DRUG SALES

Facing up to 15 years in prison for selling marijuana from her West Valley
City home, a 45-year-old woman was sentenced Monday to 3 months in jail.

A recommendation from prosecutor Clark Harms was instrumental to Vicki Lee
Wilson's lenient sentence. Harms said there was evidence Wilson was selling
drugs in the presence of her grandchildren, but none to suggest she was
using drugs herself.

Third District Judge Randall Skanchy ordered the jail time, followed by 36
months of probation, but said Wilson must submit to random urinalysis to
ensure she remains drug-free.

The judge also allowed Wilson until Friday to check into jail so she can
arrange for someone to care for the 4-year-old grandson she is raising.

Wilson was tending two other grandchildren last August when police seized
marijuana from her home, as well as a videotape of a birthday party, which
showed marijuana being passed around in the presence of the children.
Wilson's 5-year-old granddaughter told police the woman was selling "weed,"
according to Harms.

Wilson said the drugs did not belong to her. But defense attorney Edward
Brass said that because the drugs were sold in her home, she admits she is
ultimately responsible.

As part of a plea-bargain, Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree felony
possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and two
counts of class A misdemeanor child endangerment.

Wilson was arrested only a month after graduating from drug court, where
she had resolved a 1998 case of felony drug possession and distribution. On
Monday, Wilson told the judge she was "proud" of completing the drug-court
program, which emphasizes treatment over incarceration.

Only 17 of 264 drug-court graduates have been arrested on new drug charges
since 1996, according to recent statistics.