FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR FROM U.S. IS SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN RUSSIAN PRISON ON
DRUG CHARGES

An American Fulbright scholar was sentenced on Friday to more than three
years in a Russian prison after being convicted of possessing and
distributing marijuana.

Investigators testified that John E. Tobin was carrying a matchbox that
contained marijuana on January 26 when he was detained by police as he left
a nightclub in Voronezh, about 300 miles southwest of Moscow. A subsequent
search of his apartment reportedly yielded more of the drug.

Mr. Tobin's lawyer contended, however, that the drugs had been planted on
his client, a native of Ridgefield, Conn., who was conducting postgraduate
research at Voronezh State University.

"I never offered or sold anyone drugs. ... I don't have anything to do with
drugs," Mr. Tobin, 24, told the judge in Russian before his sentencing on
Friday."I consider myself not guilty. I am a student. I came here to study."

The case attracted interest worldwide when the local branch of the main
Russian security service accused Mr. Tobin of being an apprentice spy who
was carrying out on-site training. According to The Washington Post, Mr.
Tobin studied at a U.S. military school and at the Defense Language
Institute in Monterey, Calif., and was a member of an Army Reserves
military-intelligence battalion. Russian authorities filed no other charges
against him, however.

The judge said character references were mitigating factors in imposing a
sentence of three years and one month instead of a possible four years.
Nevertheless, the term is severe for a first-time drug offender in Russia.

A prosecutor had told the judge that police investigators inflated the
total amount of marijuana allegedly in Mr. Tobin's possession. An
additional charge of persuading others to use narcotics, which carries a
term of up to 15 years, was dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Mr. Tobin's lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.