JUVENILES CHARGED IN BUST GET PROBATION

GRAHAM - Eight of the youngest students charged in the undercover drug bust
at Alamance County high schools appeared in Juvenile Court on Thursday and
admitted to selling drugs. District Court Judge Kent Washburn gave
probation to seven of the students, including two former Eastern Alamance
High School basketball players.

They were two of three students charged in the juvenile justice system,
which handles children under age 16 at the time of a crime, who had no
previous record. A former ninth-grader at Sellars-Gunn Education Center,
Cameron Graves, was sent to training school and could be held there until
his 18th birthday. Graves' sentence was the result of his previous record,
including a misdemeanor larceny charge he was found guilty of last week. On
Thursday, Graves admitted to possession with the intent to sell and deliver
marijuana, selling marijuana, and delivering marijuana. Former Eastern
basketball player and 10th-grader Christopher Jeffries admitted to drug
charges Thursday under an Alford plea, which means he did not acknowledge
committing the crimes. Assistant District Attorney Sean Boone said an
undercover officer had first approached Eastern basketball star JamesOn
Curry, who suggested he ask Jeffries for marijuana instead. Jeffries sold
$40 worth of marijuana to the officer in a school bathroom, Boone said.
Curry, an 18-year-old senior, faces charges in Superior Court in connection
with two other alleged marijuana deals. Jeffries shook his head repeatedly
during Boone's description of the drug sale. His attorney, Aaron Carlos,
said he had considered entrapment as a defense because the officer asked
Jeffries for drugs several times a week before the student gave in. Carlos
also withdrew a motion to dismiss the charges, which was based on the
argument that Jeffries was punished already by spending more than five days
in detention. Most of the 58 people charged in "Operation Safe Schools"
made bond within a day or two of the Feb. 4 arrests.

But the juveniles were held without bond until a judge released them in a
Feb. 9 hearing. Carlos said he was concerned prosecutors would respond to
the motion by asking the judge to transfer Jeffries, now 16, to Superior
Court where he would be tried as an adult. Several other defense attorneys
said their clients did not want to risk a trial in Superior Court. Crimes
admitted to in Juvenile Court do not go on a child's record. Judge Washburn
said he hoped the time spent in detention was a "thought provoking"
experience for the students. "This is a very bad thing that could turn out
to be a lesson to him and some others," Washburn said to another former
Eastern basketball player, 16-year-old Kevin Graves. "I hope so." Washburn
also complimented parents for attending hearings and supporting their
children. "That's a good sign," he said to the parents. "They've got a fork
in the road here, and they could go one way and be outstanding or go the
other way and ruin their lives." Those given probation terms Thursday are
listed below.

Because one attorney had a conflict with a jury trial, a ninth student's
hearing was delayed until March 11. n Crystal Alston, formerly a
10th-grader at Cummings High School, admitted to possession with the intent
to sell and deliver cocaine, selling cocaine, and delivering cocaine.

She also rode with an undercover officer to another person's house to get
the drugs. n Jared Burton, formerly a 10th-grader at Eastern, admitted to
selling marijuana, delivering marijuana, and a misdemeanor charge for
possession of marijuana. n Jessica Faranello, formerly a 10th-grader at
Cummings High School, admitted to possession with the intent to sell and
deliver marijuana, selling marijuana, and delivering marijuana.

She rode with an undercover officer to another person's house to get the
drugs. n Kevin Graves admitted to two counts each of possession with the
intent to sell and deliver marijuana, selling marijuana, and delivering
marijuana.

He sold the drugs to an undercover officer during classes.

Graves did not have a previous record. n Christopher Jeffries admitted to
possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, selling
marijuana, delivering marijuana, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of
marijuana. n Charles Melvin, 16, formerly of Graham High School, admitted
to two counts each of possession with the intent to sell and deliver
marijuana, delivering marijuana and selling marijuana.

He sold the drugs to an undercover officer in front of the school and in
the bathroom. n Schason Phillips, formerly a 10th-grader at Cummings High
School, admitted to possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and
deliver marijuana; selling marijuana; and delivering marijuana.

He did not have a previous record.