PEARCE HAS WRONG VIEW OF E. KY.'S DRUG PLAGUE

Anyone who's read John Ed Pearce's columns since he migrated east from
The Courier-Journal knows that he supports drug legalization. It's one
of his many liberal political positions with which I disagree.

But it's obvious that he is ill informed about the drug problem in
Eastern Kentucky. If Pearce would read the publication for which he
writes, he would know there is no clamor in Lee, Owsley or Estill --
the counties that make up the 23rd Judicial Circuit -- to imprison
drug users. The residents and voters of these counties take issue with
the court's treatment of drug dealers, not users. There is a difference.

Those of us who live and work here and are trying to improve life in
this region support efforts to get treatment for addicts. Chemical
dependency is a medical problem, albeit a self-inflicted one. We want
addicts to become functioning, contributing members of society.

Operation UNITE has helped fund a drug court in Lee and Owsley
counties. This initiative will help provide treatment and resources to
those charged with possession, and the offenses will be purged from
their records when they complete the program.

Government agencies, civic groups, local leaders and concerned
citizens are working to bring treatment options to an area lacking
them. We support treatment and know that we can't solve drug problems
just by locking up users.

The three-pronged approach of enforcement, treatment and education is
the best way, and law enforcement personnel say the same thing. That's
also the message the recent Kentucky Drug Summit heard loud and clear
in its series of statewide public meetings.

The cavalier attitude shown by Circuit Judge Bill Trude, highlighted
in the Herald-Leader's "Prescription for Pain" series, is what
troubles area residents. Herald-Leader articles have chronicled these
problems, which include defendants agreeing to specific prison
sentences in plea bargains, only to have Trude reduce those sentences
instead of rejecting the plea agreements.

Even though Estill County is not included in the order appointing
Special Judge William Wehr, Estill has similar problems. In one case,
Trude gave shock probation to Brian Roberts, who had a felony
conviction for robbing a handicapped Irvine man in 1994. The decision
outraged the community. Shock probation is designed for first-time
offenders who are unlikely to commit another crime, especially after
the shock of a few days behind bars. It's certainly not intended for
defendants like Roberts.

On April 27, 2003, the Herald-Leader took Trude to task editorially
for his handling of drug cases.

It's not a morality issue, either, as Pearce contends. Our region's
drug problems are inseparably linked to other chronic woes, such as
low educational attainment, high unemployment and a continuing cycle
of welfare dependence.

And by bringing up marijuana eradication efforts and drug production
overseas, which admittedly do consume supply interdiction resources,
Pearce ignores the fact that much of the problem here involves the
illegal sale and abuse of prescription drugs.

The voters who hired Trude and the taxpayers who pay his salary have
the right to hold him accountable for his actions. They also have a
right to an explanation of his sentencing habits for drug dealers. To
date, they don't think they have received a satisfactory
explanation.

Treatment for addicts and punishment for greedy dealers who peddle
drugs are all we want. Too bad Pearce didn't understand that before he
passed his faulty judgment from afar.

H.B. Elkins is executive director of the People Encouraging People
Coalition, an anti-drug coalition for Beattyville and Lee County.