EATONTON'S STIFFER DRUG LAW GETS FIRST BIG TEST

Fifteen Arrested Friday, 11 More Face Charges Of Sale Of Crack Or
Powder Cocaine Or Marijuana

EATONTON - Officers of the Eatonton Police Department and Ocmulgee
Drug Task Force began rounding up more than two dozen suspected drug
dealers Friday, some of whom face multiple life sentences if convicted.

The arrests will be the first major test of downtown Eatonton's
drug-free commercial zone, established more than a year ago to help
fight the drug trade in the notorious "Strip." The new penalty calls
for an additional 20-year sentence to be served after the regular
sentence imposed by the court.

The 15 individuals arrested Friday and 11 more with outstanding
warrants each face charges of sale of crack or powder cocaine or
marijuana, and all 26 were videotaped selling drugs to undercover
agents, according to Wesley Nunn, commander of the task force.

Many of those identified as street-level drug dealers through the
investigation were already serving probation or parole, and all of
them were well known to local law enforcement, according to Ocmulgee
Judicial Circuit assistant district attorney Michael Gailey.

"This drug sweep is unique in that just about every one are prior
offenders, which means almost all of them are looking at a life
sentence," Gailey said. "Some of them are looking at two, three, four
life sentences."

Gailey said, of the 26 defendants, eight were on probation and seven
were on parole.

In cases where drug dealers are sentenced to life, Gailey said they
generally are paroled after about seven years. However, in addition to
facing charges for selling drugs, the defendants all also face an
additional 20 years for selling drugs within Eatonton's drug-free
commercial zone.

Because this is the first large drug sweep where defendants are
charged under the statute, Gailey said he did not know how the 20-year
sentences will translate into actual time served.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, Gailey and Nunn were instrumental
in getting the drug-free commercial zone enacted to fight the drug
trade on the "Strip," a four or five block area around East Marion
Street in downtown Eatonton.

The extra penalty associated with the zone has been enough in recent
months to dissuade drug dealers from openly trafficking there, police
say.

Nunn said the task force became involved at the request of Eatonton
Police Chief Kent Lawrence. Eatonton police detective Allan Reid
organized the investigation and directed undercover agents to
locations throughout Eatonton where drugs could be purchased.

The Middle Georgia Fugitive Squad, based in Macon, assisted in the
Friday morning roundup.