DRUG COURT STAFFER FOUND DEAD

Cause Of Death Is Under Investigation; Boyfriend Held On Drug Counts

BETHLEHEM -- The boyfriend of Rensselaer County Drug Court
coordinator Jacqueline A. Horne is in jail on drug charges after
Horne died at her home early Friday, police said.

The cause of Horne's death remains under investigation, said
Bethlehem police on Saturday. Authorities executed a search warrant
at Horne's home at 34 Hanover Drive on Friday that led to the arrest
of her live- in boyfriend, [Name redacted], on felony drug charges.

Bethlehem police are not characterizing Horne's death as suspicious,
while they await the results of her autopsy, including toxicology
tests. Lt. Thomas Heffernan would not say what led officers to seek a
search warrant, but said they found some evidence, plus a lack of
cooperation from [Name redacted].

"Twenty-nine-year-olds don't just die," he said.

Horne worked closely with County Judge Patrick McGrath and other
court officials to direct worthy candidates into Rensselaer's drug
program, an alternative to jail or prison for defendants arrested for
drug and alcohol offenses.

"It is a shock to everyone in the courthouse," McGrath said Friday.
"She always tried to take the extra step to help people and was very
committed to her job."

In a Times Union story last year, Horne described the goals of the drug court.

"What the program is really trying to do is foster a sense of
responsibility, point the people in the right direction and let them
take it from there," Horne said.

Police responded to Horne's home at 1:03 a.m. Friday and found her in
her dining room. She was transported to Albany Medical Center
Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 3:39 a.m.

[Name redacted] was charged with felony drug possession, obstruction
of governmental administration and false personation, both
misdemeanors, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Police declined to say what drugs were allegedly found that led to
the felony charges. [Name redacted] was arraigned in New Scotland
Town Court Friday and sent to Albany County jail without bail. He is
due to appear in Bethlehem Town Court on Monday.