COCAINE USE NETS 15-YEAR JAIL TERM

Drunk Driver Violates Terms Of His Probation

An American man who was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment for causing
the crash that killed a young St. Albert musician was slapped with a
lengthy jail sentence this week.

Ricky Earl Nolen, 28, of Heflin, Alabama was sentenced to 15 years
after violating the conditions of his probation.

Nolen was originally sentenced to 30 days to be served on weekends and
15 years probation for causing the accident that killed Daniel
Langlois, 19, of St. Albert and Jordan Wodehouse, 19, of Edmonton.

Prison officials demanded a urine sample from Nolen when he arrived at
the county prison to serve one weekend of his sentence on Feb. 13.
Nolen at first refused, then gave a sample that tested positive for
cocaine.

Under the condition of his probation, Nolen is to abstain from the use
of controlled substances.

"He had snorted some cocaine prior to turning himself in for his
weekend sentence," said assistant district attorney Brian Howell.
"Based on that, the judge decided to impose the rest of his sentence."

Nolen will now be transferred to a central processing facility in
Alabama's capital, Montgomery. Corrections staff will then determine
at what facility he will serve his sentence.

He will be eligible for parole in three to five years. Howell said his
office will notify the Langlois and Wodehouse families of the dates of
Nolen's future parole hearings.

"When he comes up, the judge, families and myself will be notified so
we can speak to the board or file written objections to his release,"
said Howell. "The family will still have their opportunity to speak
about it."

Alabama's prison system, which has been described as "squalid" and
"barbaric" by federal judges, is one of the most overcrowded,
under-funded in the U.S. The state spends half the national average
per inmate on its prisons. One state facility, Limestone, currently
holds 2,182 inmates. It was designed to hold 874.

Langlois' family is disappointed Nolen could not abide by the terms of
his probation.

"At the time, I thought the sentence as it was, was very meaningless,
but we were giving them the benefit of the doubt because it was
obviously out of our hands," said Daniel's mother Sheri-Lee. "He
obviously couldn't handle the few restrictions that were placed on
him. It is my personal opinion that it is no surprise."

Sheri-Lee does not yet know if she will object to Nolen's release when
his first parole hearing comes up.

"I know I am entitled to be notified, but I don't know what I will do.
That's very far off," she said. "The thing we really felt is this man
somehow couldn't learn anything from this terrible, terrible tragedy.
We question what it takes for someone to change their ways when they
have killed someone."

Langlois and Wodehouse were travelling in a van with two other members
of their band Compromise on Interstate 20 in Alabama on June 13, 2002
when Nolen rear-ended the van, causing the crash. He admitted he had
been drinking before the accident and pleaded guilty to two counts of
manslaughter in October.