Posted at 9:08 a.m. PDT Friday, July 25, 1997

Rocker Rick Danko convicted of heroin smuggling

CHIBA, Japan (AP) Rick Danko, bassist for the legendary rock group The
Band, was found guilty today of colluding with his wife to smuggle heroin
into Japan, but received a suspended sentence and won't go to jail.

Danko was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Chiba District Court, but
the sentence was suspended for five years, meaning that he won't serve time if
he doesn't commit any crimes in Japan during that period.

The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer was released from custody later today and was
also expected to return home today. Originally from Ontario, Danko has lived
in New York for many years.

Danko, wearing a thick beard and shoulderlength hair, was led into the
courtroom handcuffed and flanked by two prison guards.

After reading the verdict, presiding Judge Yasuro Tanaka urged Danko to
follow through on a promise he made at his initial court session earlier this
month to seek professional help for his heroin habit.

``I hope very much that you quit drugs, rehabilitate yourself and start playing
music again soon,'' Tanaka said.

``I've been drugfree for three months, so that's a start,'' Danko replied. He
was led out of the court shortly after the verdict was read and released from
custody later.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 2 1/2 years, but the three
judges decided to give Danko a suspended sentence given the small amount
of drugs involved and Danko's contributions to society through his music
and gifts to charity.

Danko, who was arrested May 6 during a tour of Japan, had claimed in earlier
testimony that he had not intended to have the 0.04 ounce of heroin shipped
to him here.

Danko said he had asked his wife to send him some ``medication'' from the
United States, presuming she would understand he meant the drug codeine,
for which he has a prescription.

Danko, who is 54, admitted using heroin in the past to suppress persistent pain
in his back and neck caused by a 1968 car accident. He also admitted to
snorting heroin on the flight to Japan in April.

Danko, who was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, became
well known as a singer and bassist for The Band, a mainly Canadian group that
first won fame for backing up Bob Dylan during a 196566 world tour.