DRUG STING HEARING SCHEDULED

Judge Seals Results Of Meetings On 'Selective Prosecution' Motion

NASHVILLE -- Two years after Clarksville's largest drug bust, 20 of 27
people have delayed federal prosecution because of a motion to dismiss some
defendants' charges. They say they were victims of "selective prosecution."
The motion, filed in July 2000 by Peter J. Strianse, attorney for three of
the 27, alleges police targeted certain neighborhoods and people during the
February 2000 drug sting. Forty-four people were arrested on state and
federal drug charges.

A conference on the selective prosecution motion was held Feb. 15 and a
follow-up meeting between attorneys, prosecutors and the judge was held
Monday. U.S. District Judge William Haynes sealed the results of both
conferences.

A hearing to discuss evidence relating to the motion is scheduled for April
12 in Nashville. Court officials are uncertain if the hearing will be closed.

Strianse did not return numerous calls seeking comment.

U.S. Attorney Hal McDonough said he "wouldn't want to speculate" how the
cases might proceed.

Four people arrested in the bust pleaded guilty to federal drug possession
charges, one person was found guilty and two -- Shawn P. Majors, 27, and
Kotaz M. Watkins, 28 -- had charges against them dropped.

On April 6, 2001, Haynes signed an order saying the motion alleging
selective prosecution must be resolved before any remaining cases could
move forward.

Police officials described the operation as "citywide," but complaints of
racial profiling arose after it was revealed only one person arrested was
white. The white suspect was not among the people indicted, but was at a
residence police raided.

Last March, Agent James Burt Clinard of the Clarksville Police Department's
Major Crimes Division testified in District Court that he knew of a white
drug dealer not targeted in the sting.