ROUGHRIDER'S CASE SENT TO MEDIATION

SASKATOON - Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Shont'e
Peoples was referred to mediation Tuesday after appearing in court to
face charges of possessing marijuana.

Peoples, 31, is scheduled to appear in provincial court Nov. 4 for
mediation after being charged with possessing less than 30 grams of
marijuana.

The incident allegedly occurred after a Roughriders home game in July
that apparently coincided with a visit Peoples made to promote a rap
song he recorded with several teammates.

In mediation the charges are withdrawn and there is no
conviction.

Peoples, a nine-year CFL veteran, was not in court Tuesday and his
lawyer, Carol Carlson, would not comment on the case.

There was no plea in the case but Helen Smith-McIntyre, executive
director of Saskatoon Community Mediation Services, said mediation
programs are for people who accept responsibility for their actions.

The mediation process varies in each individual case but often
involves one-on-one counselling, she said.

''We're very individualized. We're not intended to be a prescriptive
or formula kind of program.''