INMATES WITH DRUGS: PROBLEMS CONTINUE IN COUNTY JAIL

Inmate access to drugs in the Cocke County Jail continues to be a problem.

The issue-and the continuing efforts of law enforcement and the courts to
deal with the problem-came up several times during this week's two-day
session of criminal court.

In one case, a defendant's plea-bargain was modified in order to prevent
his becoming "a perfect conduit" for illegal substances in the jail. And
Circuit Judge Ben W. Hooper said he has received reports from jail
officials confirming that some inmates continue to test positive for
illegal drugs and alcohol while being confined in the facility.

Judge Hooper, while confirming that drug use continues to be a problem
among inmates, said local officials are making progress in dealing with the
problem-which he said is a problem shared by many, if not all, correctional
facilities. But he said there are larger issues that are more difficult to
address.

"My remarks about this issue and the condition of the jail are not directed
at the sheriff's department; they are doing their best to deal with it,"
the judge said. "There's much more to it than that, and I doubt there's a
drug-free jail anywhere in the country.

"Among the issues is that we have people who work in the jail who have
absolutely no training," Judge Hooper said. "They're young. They're
immature. And they are paid next to nothing-just over what I would consider
poverty level. And that makes them targets for people in and around the
jail who could take advantage of them."

In the case of 45-year-old Terry Sartin, who pled guilty on Tuesday to
several drug offenses, the court was dealing with a man who defense
attorney Tom Testerman said "has a good work history and was supporting
himself just a little bit by this activity.

"If you listen to the [undercover agent's] tapes of these transactions,
this was just a trusted friend and was not a big-deal-type situation," the
attorney said.

In such cases, defendants are often given the benefits of work-release and
similar programs. But because of the nature of the offenses and the fact
that Sartin would be coming in and out of the jail to work, Judge Hooper
said he could not accept the initial agreement announced by attorneys in
the case.

"My problem with this is that he could be a perfect conduit for drugs in
the jail," Judge Hooper said. "Coming in and out of the jail for
work-release, it would be a situation that could get out of control."

Sartin pled guilty on Tuesday in five indictments alleging sales of
marijuana and the anti-anxiety drug diazepam (Valium) in connection with an
undercover investigation by the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force
last February.

Assistant District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn said two of the marijuana
sales involved more than a half-ounce of the drug and two involved more
than a half-ounce. On February 14, Sartin is alleged to have sold an
undercover agent ten Valium tablets for $10, Dunn said.

The plea-bargain with the state calls for Sartin to receive a two-year
sentence in connection with one of the sales consecutive to two-year
concurrent sentences in the remaining four cases-a net sentence of four
years in jail.

The initial plea agreement called for Sartin to serve 120 days in jail of
the four-year term, with the provision that he be allowed to apply for
work-release.

But after Judge Hooper expressed reservations about that proposal, the
parties agreed to require Sartin to serve 30 days in jail, followed by 30
days of freedom, then another 30 days in jail. The balance of the term will
be served on supervised probation and Sartin must pay court costs and
$4,000 in fines.

The defendant's former wife, Colleen Sartin, is facing similar charges but
has applied for pre-trial diversion in her case. Judge Hooper is expected
to consider her case in February.

In another drug-related case, Judge Hooper summoned inmate Donnie Parrott
to court on Tuesday and told him the court had received information that
Parrott was one of several inmates who tested positive for drugs in a
recent round of drug tests in the jail.

Judge Hooper said authorities found contraband in the cell in which Parrott
was being held and that the inmate tested positive for marijuana use.

The judge also questioned Parrott again about his medical condition. During
previous court appearances, Parrott has told the judge he suffers from
liver disease and a back problem for which he is treated with narcotic pain
medicine.

Judge Hooper said medical records requested by the court confirm those two
conditions, but do not reflect Parrott's contention in another court
appearance that he is suffering from cancer.

"My review of the records did not show anything at all about cancer," Judge
Hooper said, reminding the defendant that he could face perjury charges for
not telling the truth in court.

Parrott told Judge Hooper this week that his doctors have told him that his
liver condition is such that it could easily develop into cancer.

"The court could find that you have committed perjury if it related to some
material fact in your case," Judge Hooper told the defendant. "It's kept
you from coming to court in the past. You tell me about the cancer and I
kept letting it slide and slide and slide. That is what interested me in
your medical records."