FIRST-TIMER GETS LIFE FOR DEALING DRUGS

COVINGTON, La. (AP) -- A man who made a $50 profit when he sold heroin to
an undercover police officer was sentenced Monday to serve the rest of his
life in prison.

Wesley C. Dick III, 44, of Lacombe, who had no criminal record of drug
dealing before his October conviction for distributing heroin, has not
denied he sold the drug, but he argues that police entrapped him.

By state law, the conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

"I made a mistake," Dick said during his sentencing hearing Monday before
state District Judge Patricia Hedges. "I'm willing to take responsibility.
What I did was wrong. (But) I can honestly say I was not dealing drugs."

At trial, testimony showed that Dick, an admitted former heroin addict, did
not have any heroin or the money to buy it in May 1999 when undercover
Slidell police Detective Kevin Swann contacted him through a confidential
informant.

When the men met on two separate occasions, however, the officer gave Dick
money and Dick drove to New Orleans to buy the drugs for the officer,
testimony showed.

Both transactions, which took place in Dick's car with his two young
daughters inside, totaled about $360. Dick, who was living on food stamps
at the time, said he made about $50 profit.

Arguing that the sentence is excessive and does not fit the crime, Dick's
father testified during a presentencing hearing Monday.

"He made a total of $50 out of sales," Wesley Dick II said. "That's hardly
a drug dealer."

Wesley Dick II also told the judge his son had a solid work history as an
offshore construction inspector and had been supporting his family until he
was hospitalized with kidney failure in 1998.

"When the Legislature put in life sentence for distribution of heroin, they
were talking about a different guy than Wesley Dick," attorney Doyle
"Buddy" Spell Jr., said. "What is the benefit of putting away a guy who has
never hurt anybody?"

Spell also said that if he were in federal court, Dick would be facing a
sentence of 30 to 50 months, not his entire life.

Spell said he planned to appeal on grounds that Dick was entrapped.