Nineteenth Of Ongoing Series

DRUG COURT HAMMER COMES DOWN HARD ON GREG

20 Days In The Slammer For Man Who Got His Dad, Friends To Register And
Vote For Lane

Note: The following article is the 19th in a series regarding the creation
of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Court Program recently implemented in
Pahrump. Because drug court is designed to treat addiction rather than
prosecute users as is done in criminal courts, the identities of
participants will be altered for purposes of confidentiality; their
photographs will not be printed.

One and 20 days in jail were handed down as sanctions Tuesday afternoon
when Fifth District Court Judge Robert Lane presided over the 19th session
of drug court - after two weeks of virtual perfect performances by every
participant who is still active in the program.

Greg got the 20 days in jail for his latest stumble; Joe was given 24 hours
for his first setback since entering the program four months ago. Both men
had a couple of failures last week, but Greg lied to the judge while Joe
came clean, so Lane's hammer came down harder on Greg.

For Greg, it isn't his addiction to methamphetamine that keeps landing him
in trouble; it's his fondness for marijuana. And while it was the speed
that got Greg sideways with the law in the first place, it looks like the
weed is what is keeping him there.

Joe also smoked pot last week, and, like Greg, he missed a counseling
session. Lane did not sanction Joe for the joint he said he smoked, but he
nailed him on the missed counseling session and gave Joe a day in jail.

Joe now returns to the beginning of phase 2 of the three-phase program
after being promoted a couple of months ago. It was his first slip-up.
Everybody else in drug court did fine, even Dennis, who had a close call
with a supposedly dirty drug test given Monday night, but those results
reversed themselves by Tuesday afternoon after Dennis challenged the
initial urine drop. There was more good news.

After a couple of shaky weeks early in the program, Theresa has emerged as
one of the blossoming flowers of drug court. There are signs she has
learned that dealing with stress is part of everyday life in the adult world.

And stress she has had. Her car was stolen last week and now her mom has to
drive her to and from work. She didn't use as a means to cope. Theresa is
working her first fulltime job and is doing well, but sometimes the
pressure can seem unbearable. She isn't letting that give her an excuse to
fail.

In addition to turning in clean urine drops, Theresa is doing well in
counseling and she's involved in the three 12-step meetings she must attend
each week. She was treated to applause.

Lane had some advice for Theresa, telling the young woman that "drugs will
only make stress worse."

Greg's wife Cathy was excused from Tuesday's session due to a doctor's
appointment, but if she had been there Cathy likely would have received the
same applause from her peers. According to Bobbie Neal, Lane's law clerk
and a member of drug court team, Cathy continues to excel.

Liz has done so well since coming in a few weeks ago; it makes one wonder
if she even has a drug problem. Liz has never tested dirty for meth, she
holds a position of trust in her 12.step meeting group, works a fulltime
job and is well regarded by her counselor.

All she needs to do, said Lane, is pay up on her counseling fees and she'll
be the next one to advance to phase two.

Fred is on track to fulfill a goal he set his first week in drug court
several months ago when he told Lane, "I want to be the first to graduate.
I want to be a drug court legend." His legend grows week by week. Like Liz,
Fred has never tested dirty, he's made his meetings, and he works a good
job for a major regional employer.

Fred said he and his wife, who recently completed a court-ordered in- house
treatment program, begin family counseling today. Lane was pleased with the
announcement. "I'm a firm believer every married couple needs family
counseling," said the judge. Lane gave the man a refrigerator magnet with
an inspirational message printed on its surface as a token of the drug
court team's appreciation of his efforts.

After a series of good weeks followed by bad weeks, Vicki is "doing great,"
according to Lane. She has tested clean and has made her counseling
sessions and 12-step meetings. Vicki is a bit behind on the community
service hours unemployed participants must complete each week, but she's
caught up on her counseling payments and is close to moving into phase two
after a rocky start.

Unable to work due to a chronic back condition, Vicki faces another surgery
and continues to worry what her recovery might mean to her rehabilitation.
Other than that, she told the drug court team that, "Everything is going well."

Paul is doing well, and with a large family to care for and the incumbent
financial stress that comes with small paychecks and small mouths to feed,
he perhaps more than any other participant is positively handling his
burden. Lane told Paul the holidays would be here and gone before he knew
what happened. In reference to the upcoming season, Lane indicated the drug
court team might be able to help out Paul and his family.

The saddest story of drug court, at least this week, has to be Greg, one of
the more popular people to participate thus far. Ordered last week to pay
for and submit to a comprehensive lab analysis of his urine, Greg lied when
he told Lane he obliged the court. He shrugged his shoulders when asked how
his urine drops went, and told the court he last smoked pot 22 days earlier.

The drug court team was under the impression Greg had not gone to the lab
to be tested, and re-checked their information when Greg said he had gone
earlier on Monday. "They said it would take a day or two to get the
results," he said.

Lane asked Greg to sit tight while Parole and Probation Officer Robert
Raymond once again called Express Lab to check his story.

During a five-minute recess, Greg confided in Robert that he misrepresented
the facts concerning the drug test. Once court reconvened Greg told the
truth. He said his reasons for doing so were twofold. First, he knew there
would be pot in his system so he didn't want to waste the $55 fee he had to
pay to the lab. Second, he knew he was going to jail and that wasn't an
appetizing prospect.

He thought he'd get 14 days, but Lane gave him 20 days instead. "We'll get
you clean," said the judge. "The day you get out we'll test you and you'll
be clean. You better be clean from then on," the judge said.

Greg was clearly disappointed by the ruling, but undaunted. Prior to drug
court he told the PVT he figured he was in trouble, but he solidly supports
the man who has so much control over his life. "I can't vote," Greg said.
"But my dad can and he never has, and I have a couple of friends that can,
too. I got them to register and they voted for the first time. I made sure
they voted for Judge Lane ... and I'm pretty sure he's going to send me to
jail today."

Dennis caught a break from the judge, but it could be his last. Lane said
he would give the man the benefit of the doubt once he challenged the
results of his last test and then offered one that was either clean or
inconclusive. Still, Dennis was warned his next problem could mean his
ouster from drug court. "You're on thin ice," said Lane.

"You're always on thin ice when you're an addict," responded Dennis.

"Well, you look like an addict right now," said Lane to Dennis, who
appeared to either have a bad case of the flu or to be under the influence
of meth.

John and Amy continue their respective in-house treatments and could return
to drug court in the coming weeks. Time might have run out for Joan, who
has failed to appear for the last three sessions. A warrant has been issued
for her arrest, and the drug court team has it on good authority that Joan
has no intention of returning. A prison term could be in the young woman's
immediate future.

After 19 weeks a chasm has developed among drug court participants. There
appears to be those who excel and perform admirably and those who can
resist everything but temptation - while the drug court team anxiously
waits for them to get the big picture.