'ECSTASY' DOCUMENTARY LEADS TO FATHER'S ARREST

TV Film Showed Dad Taking Drugs With Kids

A Calavaras County man shown in an HBO documentary encouraging his teenage
children to take drugs, including ecstasy, was scheduled to be arraigned
today on child-endangerment charges.

Scott Meyers, 43, was featured on the April 28 program "Small Town Ecstasy"
using the synthetic drug with his children and going to drug parties known
as raves.

"It's pretty poor parenting," Calaveras County District Attorney Jeffrey
Tuttle said today.

County Sheriff's Capt. Michael Walker agreed, saying there was outrage as a
result of what was shown on TV. "The community can't understand how a father
could become involved in that."

Meyers was arrested on a warrant signed by a Sacramento County judge. He was
to appear before Superior Court Judge Jane Ure today in Sacramento on two
charges of felony child endangerment. He is being held at Sacramento County
Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Meyers could also face additional charges for allegedly furnishing alcohol
to minors, authorities said.

Footage from and interviews with people shown on the documentary led to
Meyers' arrest Wednesday at his home in Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County,
Walker said today.

In particular, a drug party at the Sacramento home of Meyers' grown son was
the focus of a joint investigation launched by Sacramento police and
Calaveras County sheriff's officials after the documentary aired, Walker
said.

At the Sacramento party, Meyers is with his children and their school-age
friends drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, snorting cocaine and "rolling"
and "chilling" on ecstasy pills.

Ecstasy is considered the drug of choice by many of those who attend "raves,
" all-night parties that mix loud techno-beat music with drugs.

Users of ecstasy, a mind-altering stimulant chemically known as
methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, report a heightened sense of well-
being. But they can suffer from depression and memory loss, according to
health officials.

At one point in the documentary, Meyers gives his 13-year-old son, Sam, cash
to buy drugs, prompting the 18-year-old son to tell his father, "That was a
dumb idea." Meyers' 15-year-old daughter, Heather, is also shown using
drugs.

Authorities had tried to obtain raw footage taped two years ago before the
program aired, but were unsuccessful, so investigators watched the program
like everybody else, Walker said.

Walker would not say whether the children's statements helped provide
grounds for the arrest.

In the documentary, Meyers, the son of a well-known retired Calaveras County
minister, is shown going through a midlife crisis after divorcing his wife.

He takes ecstasy for the first time and then begins using it frequently,
dyes his hair, gives wild kisses to strangers and addresses young people
half his age with phrases like "Whaddup dog?" Meyers has said that before
turning 40 he had never even tasted hard liquor.

At one point, the camera crew captured Calaveras County sheriff's deputies
arresting Meyers in November 2000 on suspicion of possessing ecstasy in his
apartment. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor in March and was referred to
a diversion program, authorities said.

In the documentary, Meyers said he liked the fact that drugs make him more
extroverted.

Authorities had some harsh words today for HBO officials, saying they failed
to act when they filmed Meyers' children using drugs.

"There's not much we can do," Tuttle said. "I guess that's reality TV. But
I'll ask you this: I know I would have a difficult time making a living
photographing that without stepping in and making some statement as to
what's right or what's wrong, and they didn't do that."

The district attorney said HBO's role wasn't necessarily a case of criminal
law but one of morality and common sense.

"I think, pretty clearly, that what happened was not right, and basically
they were filming it to make money. That sticks in my craw."

Allison Grodner, the film's supervising producer, did not return a call for
comment today.

"A very strong message that we wanted to impart was about the dangers of
ecstasy," Arnold Shapiro, the movie's executive producer, told The Chronicle
in a previous interview. "You don't come away from the film saying, 'My God
- -- I have to start taking that drug.' "

Meyers' ex-wife, Sheryl Mettler, provided information to Calaveras County
investigators about his behavior, Walker said.

Mettler, who was unavailable for comment today, now has custody of the
underage children.

Near the end of the film, Meyers is shown laughing and saying, "I'm not
going to get in trouble for this, am I?"