CHARGES AGAINST RELATIVE OF ROCKEFELLER DROPPED

NEW YORK (AP) - A judge dismissed charges Monday against a granddaughter of
the late Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and two lawmakers who were arrested while
demonstrating against New York's strict Rockefeller drug laws.

Judge Frederick Berman said he was dropping disorderly conduct charges
against Mayla Rockefeller and State Sens. David A. Paterson and Tom Duane
"in the interests of justice" and because the summonses failed to show
exactly why they were arrested.

The three were among 11 demonstrators arrested Oct. 30 for blocking the
entrance to Gov. George E. Pataki's New York City office as they protested
against the drug laws passed in the early 1970s. Charges against the other
protesters also were dropped.

The Rockefeller laws can subject first-time offenders to 15 years to life
in prison if convicted of selling as little as 2 ounces of a drug or
possessing as little as 4 ounces. Some lawmakers are pushing to ease the laws.