COUNCILOR'S SON CAUGHT WITH POT

LAS CRUCES N.M. {AP} The son of a Las Cruces City Councilor has been
suspended from Mayfield High School for a year for marijuana possession.

Nicholas Tomlin was detained earlier this week after less than an ounce of
marijuana and some drug paraphernalia were found in his car, Las Cruces
Police said.

The 16-year-old was given a referral to the Juvenile Probation Office.

Tomlin is the son of City Councilor Tommy Tomlin, who also is a teacher at
Mayfield High.

Mr. Tomlin said Friday that his son has been suspended from the school
until August 2001.

"Nicholas is accepting the responsibility of the pipe," Tomlin said. "There
was nothing in the bag except a trace of marijuana. I would say it was no
substantial amount. I'm not here to hide anything at all. We're not proud
of this, but it's something that families go through."

Tomlin said he and his wife have been having problems with their son, but
the family is receiving counseling.

Police say the punishment Tomlin received is typical in this kind of situation.

"The JPO would rarely authorize incarceration in an incident like this,"
Las Cruces Police Chief Bill Baker said.

Tomlin and other students were seen at Tomlin's car during the lunch hour
Thursday, Police said.

"They would go into the car on the passenger side. They would go into the
glove box, pull something out, throw the keys back to the individual along
with an item that they took out and the individual would hand that item
back to another juvenile who would walk off," the police report said. "This
continued on during the lunch period."

Following lunch, Tomlin was called out of class and was taken to his
vehicle by police officer Paul Del Vecchio, Vice Principal Jim Andrews and
a security guard. The pipe and marijuana were found in the ashtray, a
police report said.

Mayfield Principal Bob Ogas declined to comment on the incident.

"We're investigating and I can't give any comments right now," Ogas said.