D.A.'S OFFICE REPORTS ON 2002 CASE RESULTS

Keeping drug dealers behind bars continues to be the major focus of the
Jones County District Attorney's office.

"If you sell drugs, you are going to jail and you'll get at least seven
years," said District Attorney Grant Hedgepeth. "We've had 359 convictions
on drug sales (in the past three years) and the majority of the cases came
within the city of Laurel."

When reviewing his office's numbers from 2002, Hedgepeth said 872 cases were
sent to DA's office, resulting in 448 indictments in Second District and 79
indictments in First District.

The year ended with 228 guilty pleas and 17 trials.

Hedgepeth said clear-cut cases are only possible when everyone involved puts
forth their best efforts.

"Law enforcement officers are doing an excellent job making arrests and
gathering evidence," he said. "We want to make sure the drug dealers stay
off the streets."

The DA's office has many indictments that are still unserved but Hedgepath
is confident those indictments will reach the proper hands.

"The sheriff's department serves the indictments," he said. "It is difficult
to find a lot of these people when it is time for trial."