NEW MOM IS THANKFUL FOR DRUG COURT

CANANDAIGUA -- As she watched her mother graduate from drug court Friday
morning, 3-week-old Zoe Lattierre didn't understand the significance of the
day in her mother's life.

Her business was simply napping or resting awake in her father's arms,
looking cute.

Morgan Hudson, though, said she was pleased to be doing better in life so
that she could be a good mother to her daughter.

Lattierre is the first baby born to an Ontario County drug court
participant who successfully cleaned up his or her life from drugs.

Hudson, whose past includes heroin and alcohol abuse, graduated from drug
court Friday and said she's been drug-free for more than a year.

In its three-year history, eight people have graduated from Ontario
County's drug court, an alternative to jail time for some non-violent drug
offenses, among them Hudson and two others who graduated Friday. Sessions
are held at Canandaigua City Hall before city Judge Stephen Aronson.

Hudson, a 24-year-old from Clifton Springs, joked that "getting pregnant
wasn't part of my treatment plan," and later said she was thankful for the
option of going through the program, "so that I can be the best person I
can be for my daughter."

The new mother is staying at home right now with her first child, but she
plans eventually to go back to work and earn a degree from Finger Lakes
Community College. Her dream is to open an arts and crafts store.

Hudson was admitted into drug court in May 2002, after violating her
probation in Victor by stealing to support her drug habit, she said. She
underwent treatment with Finger Lakes Addictions and Counseling Referral
Agency.

Drug court case manager Lucile Mallard said it has been a joy to see
Hudson's recovery.

Zoe's father, boyfriend Roger Lattierre, stood next to Hudson with the
infant in his arms as Hudson received congratulations from her probation
officer and others.

A smiling Aronson told Morgan and the two other graduating participants
that, "As long as we have people like you graduating, we'll (drug court)
stay in business."

The first graduation ceremony for the county's felony drug treatment court
will begin at 10:45 a.m. June 13 in the north courtroom on the second floor
of the courthouse.