DRUG CHARGES COULD TRUMP PROBATION FOR GUNPLAY

Man Who Dodged Jail As Teen May Not Be So Lucky Again

What repeated gunplay could not do, cocaine might - put Latroy Askew behind
bars.

Askew, 26, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges of
possession of both crack and powder cocaine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Cook said at a hearing Thursday in U.S.
District Court that Askew faces a minimum of five years in prison and as
much as 40 years if convicted in the case.

Even the minimum term would be more punishment than Askew received for a
series of high-profile shootings that police said endangered dozens of
children in East Knoxville.

In May 1998, Askew and another teenager, both of whom claimed allegiance
with an inner-city street gang, engaged in a gun battle with Charles D.
Sutton at Union Square Park. Sutton was fatally shot.

There were several children playing at a playground at the Currie Place
Park at the time. Although police determined Sutton fired first and his
death was a justifiable homicide, Askew was charged with reckless
endangerment for putting children in the line of fire.

Three months later, Askew and a group of teenagers opened fire near
Austin-East High School while an estimated 35 students were walking toward
home.

The students began ducking behind vehicles or running behind houses to
avoid being struck. Luckily, police said, all escaped injury.

Askew and his cohorts were later charged with a host of offenses including
five counts of attempted murder, five counts of aggravated assault and five
counts of reckless endangerment.

When Askew's cases reached Knox County Criminal Court in September 1999,
Askew accepted a plea deal that netted him five years of probation, court
records show.

Records from the state Department of Corrections show Askew was released
from probation more than a year early.

Cook told federal Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton at Thursday's hearing that
he wants Askew to remain behind bars pending trial. Assistant Federal
Defender Kim Tollison demanded a hearing on the issue.

"We're asking for bond, judge," Tollison said.

Guyton set a Tuesday detention hearing.