MAN SEEKS PROGRAM TO ERASE DRUG ARREST

NEW HAVEN - A prominent defense attorney arrested in May for alleged
cocaine possession applied Tuesday for a special program for first-time
offenders that would clear his record.

Richard P. Silverstein, 42, applied for the community service labor program
during a court appearance in Superior Court. The program is usually offered
to first-time drug offenders.

If accepted, a judge would prescribe the term of probation and Silverstein
would have to complete community service.

Silverstein has no prior drug arrests.

Police arrested Silverstein in Fair Haven on May 12 after undercover police
officers spotted him allegedly buying drugs, police said.

Officers stopped his car and reportedly found several pieces of crack
cocaine, police said.

Silverstein entered an out-of-state drug rehabilitation program after his
arrest.

"Rich is someone who fought hard for his clients and he's fighting his own
problems with the same intensity," said William F. Dow III, Silverstein's
attorney in the drug case.