FOUR GET PRISON TIME IN DEATH OF GIRL FROM DATE RAPE DRUG

DETROIT, March 30 -- Concluding a case that drew national
attention to GHB, a drug that has been linked to date rapes, a judge
sentenced four young men to prison here today for putting what proved
to be a fatal quantity of the substance in the soft drink of an
unsuspecting 15-year-old girl a year ago.

Judge Maggie Drake of the Wayne County Circuit Court sentenced Joshua
Cole to 7 to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the
death of Samantha Reid, a high school freshman from Rockwood, Mich.
Mr. Cole confessed to police immediately after the girl's death that
he put the drug in the drink at a small party.

Judge Drake also sentenced Daniel Brayman and Nicholas Holtschlag,
accused by prosecutors of helping Mr. Cole, to prison terms of 5 years
and 9 months to 15 years, also for involuntary manslaughter. Erick
Limmer, whom prosecutors said insisted that no ambulance be called to
help Miss Reid when she passed out, was sentenced to three to five
years for being an accessory to manslaughter.

The party was at Mr. Limmer's apartment in Grosse Ile, Mich., like
Rockwood a suburb of Detroit.

Mr. Cole was 19 at the time, while both Mr. Brayman and Mr. Holtschlag
were 18 and Mr. Limmer was 26.

The men were convicted two weeks ago on these and lesser charges. They
received shorter sentences today for the lesser crimes, to be served
concurrently with the manslaughter-related terms.

Lawyers for Mr. Brayman and Mr. Holtschlag said their clients would
appeal the convictions. Lawyers for the two other defendants did not
return calls for comment.

Mr. Brayman was the only defendant with a criminal record: He was
convicted as a juvenile of malicious destruction of property, for
having smashed a mailbox.

Michigan Republicans used the death of Miss Reid to push legislation
through Congress adding GHB to the federal list of the most-controlled
substances, joining heroin and LSD as a so-called Schedule 1 drug.

GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate, can be made in a kitchen with
ingredients like furniture polish remover or drain-clearing agents,
using recipes available on the Internet. It has become popular in
recent years mainly as a recreational drug, but has also been used in
date rapes.

The slightest variation in the quantity or purity of GHB can cause
unconsciousness and death; doctors recommend that anyone who passes
out after taking the drug receive immediate medical attention.