SEVERSON CHALLENGES AIRPORT SEARCH

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Former NBC reporter Lucky Severson is challenging an
airport search of his baggage that turned up more than an ounce of marijuana.

Defense attorney James Bradshaw asked that the results of the search Aug.
14 be thrown out, saying security officers can look for weapons but may not
conduct "general searches for criminal activity."

Severson, 53, is charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, punishable
by up to six months in jail. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The reporter, who now works as a freelancer, was passing through a
security checkpoint when the Xray indicated a dark mass in his bag.

He was detained after a security officer asked to search the bag and
Severson refused. A manager of the airport's private security company
searched the bag over Severson's objections.

Copyright 1997 Associated Press.