TEENS IN COURT ON METHADONE CHARGES

Wrestler Died After Taking Drug

Two area teenagers were to appear in court today on charges that they
provided methadone to a third teen who died after taking the drug last June 14.

Kyle J. Venden, 18, of Edgerton is charged with delivering drugs near a
school while Ryan M. Borland, 18, of Waunakee is charged with possession of
drugs and bail jumping. The charges came as a result of an investigation
into the death of former Stoughton High School athlete Nathan Gassman, also 18.

In most such cases in recent years, those who have provided drugs to a user
who later dies have been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, but
Deputy District Attorney Jason Hanson said Venden and Borland could not be
charged with homicide because there was not sufficient scientific proof
that the methadone caused Gassman's death.

Gassman attended Sauk Prairie High School his first two years of high
school but then transferred to Stoughton, where he filled the 130-pound
slot on the Stoughton wrestling team that took second place in the state
team meet this year.

According to the criminal complaint, Venden admitted to police that he
found "some little white pills," which belonged to his girlfriend's
roommate, and took one. "He stated that he was not exactly sure what the
pills were but that he had used one and did not like the effect and it
scared' him," the complaint says.

Venden said he then gave the pills to Borland because "Ryan will do
anything, he just doesn't care."

But according to Borland, Venden told him he had some methadone and said he
would leave it for Borland hidden behind the gas tank lid on his
girlfriend's car. Borland told police he got the pills and took two of them
with water while Gassman took the other two with vodka and orange juice.

Venden faces a possible 15-year term for the charge of delivering the
methadone, but because that was done across the street from the Stoughton
Middle School the penalty is increased by five years. Another two years can
be added because Venden is a repeat offender, having minor convictions in
both Dane and Rock counties. That brings the total he faces to 22 years.

Borland faces a possible three years and six months for possession of
methadone and an additional six months for bail jumping. He was out on bail
on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia at the time.