U.S. ATTORNEY TOUGH IN COURT, BUT NOT ON IT

U.S. Attorney Thomas Johnston, who oversees the Northern District of West
Virginia, could easily pass as a second-year law student.

But don't let his boyish looks fool you -- he's got experience, knowledge
and 16 months as a U.S. attorney under his belt. And he's got an agenda to
make the area safer.

Johnston has made combating drugs, keeping guns away from criminals and
curtailing domestic violence his office's top priorities.

It's not surprising that there was more than a 50 percent increase in the
number of drug and gun cases his office handled in 2002.

"It's a vast majority of what we do," said Johnston, who has a staff of 20
attorneys in four offices located in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Martinsburg and
Elkins. The Northern District includes 32 counties in the Mountain State.

One law that Johnston and others believe most people don't understand is
that it is a federal offense to possess a gun if you have been convicted on
any charge of domestic battery, including misdemeanors.

Johnston's advice to those who know they are breaking the law: "They need
to get rid of their guns. If we find out they have them, we'll come after
them."

While Johnston's office is targeting these crimes heavily, they are also
part of the nationwide initiative to combat terrorism, both domestic and
foreign, as part of the anti-terrorism task force.

"We're focusing on large national and international groups and trying to
follow the money," Johnston said.

Some other interesting information about Johnston:

n When he was appointed 16 months ago, he was the second youngest U.S.
attorney. He's 35.

n He believes Attorney General John Ashcroft gets a "bum rap."

"He usually has to deal with such serious issues so he always seems to be
this hard-core individual," Johnston said.

"But I've had the opportunity to meet with him and he's a great, personable
guy. He's funny, talented and loves to play basketball."

In fact, at one conference Johnston attended, Ashcroft went around the
banquet room looking for tall guys for a pick-up game following the dinner.
The group went over to a gym at the FBI Academy for some late-night hoops.

Now that's an Ashcroft many of us can't picture.

Oh, by the way, Johnston and his wife were thankful Ashcroft passed over
him despite Johnston's 6-foot-4 height.

It seems that's one court where Johnston doesn't excel.