FAILED DRUG TEST RETURNS CONVICT TO JAIL

TAMPA - A Riverview man convicted of third-degree murder in his friend's
heroin overdose is behind bars after violating probation.

James Rouleau, 22, was sentenced Monday to 180 days in the Hillsborough
County jail. Rouleau failed a court-ordered drug test last month, only a
few days after he completed his community control.

"I was disappointed,'' said Tampa lawyer John D. Hooker, who represents
Rouleau. ``He did very well on [community control]. Then he had a little
relapse.''

Rouleau was charged with first-degree murder in 1999, one of several people
charged in unrelated drug-overdose deaths under a little-used narcotics law.

The 1970s law allows the prosecution of individuals who distribute drugs to
people who then suffer fatal overdoses. Prosecutors dusted off the law as
part of a crackdown on the county's growing heroin trade.

Rouleau and Richard Shouse, who were friends and restaurant co-workers,
snorted heroin in April 1999. Shouse, 22, died hours later in his Valrico
trailer. Prosecutors said Rouleau, known to friends as "Ziggy,'' bought the
heroin.

A jury found Rouleau guilty of third-degree murder in May 2000. He faced up
to 15 years in prison, but Circuit Judge Cynthia Holloway sentenced him to
two years of community control followed by four years of probation.

Rouleau was ordered to complete a residential drug-treatment program as
part of his community control. Hooker said his client completed the program
successfully and was allowed to end his community control early.

Hooker said Holloway warned his client Monday that she would consider
sending him to prison if he violates probation again after he completes his
180-day jail term.