Sixteenth Of Ongoing Series

ONE STEPS FORWARD, FIVE STEP BACK

Warrant Issued For Arrest Of Missing Drug Court Participant

Note: The following article is the 16th 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 advanced and five retreated Monday afternoon when Fifth District Judge
Robert Lane and the drug court team marked its 16th session after beginning
the innovative treatment court in the valley in May.

A warrant was issued for Joan's arrest after she failed to appear. There
was no word on the young woman's whereabouts, and she could be on her way
out of drug court and into prison should the drug court deem her progress
to date as inadequate.

Vicki, Greg, Dennis, and Amy were all sent to jail for various reasons, but
not all of the news was disappointing. Now in the sixth month of her
pregnancy, Cathy has been one of drug court's brighter lights. She
continues to test clean, make her 12-step meetings and attend her
counseling sessions.

When Lane asked her how she was able to stay off drugs, Cathy smiled and
said it was easy as she gently patted her expanding tummy. It's a girl.
Cathy was promoted to phase 2 of the three-phase program. "Attaboy, girl,"
said prosecutor and drug court teammate Pete Knight.

Cathy's husband Greg has managed to stay clear of methamphetamine, the drug
that got him into trouble in the first place, but he continues to smoke
marijuana.

The tension over Greg's marijuana use has been growing in recent weeks, and
he admitted to Lane that he smoked pot Aug. 5. "I have no excuses," he
said. Greg made his 12-step meetings, but failed to attend two of three
counseling sessions. He was assigned a new counselor and said he was not
comfortable with her.

Lane advised Greg counseling was not optional. "You have to go," he said
before sanctioning the man to a week in jail.

Vicki continues to play the system, and it is obvious the drug court team
now seriously questions her commitment. She made her 12-step meetings and
her counseling sessions, and says she completed 20 hours of community
service work, but was unable to provide the drug court team with written proof.

Police stopped Vicki sometime last week and a preliminary breath test
indicated she had been drinking. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
In addition, Parole and Probation Officer Robert Raymond advised Lane that
he has periodically checked in on Vicki and has found beer in her home.

"You understand I'm a cynic," said Lane. Still, the judge did not sanction
the woman for drinking. Her luck would not hold. When advised one of her
two urine drops showed she had used, Vicki let out a gasp. "Yeah, shocking
isn't it?" said Lane. The question was rhetorical.

Vicki came clean and said she and a friend smoked meth last week to
commiserate the death of a mutual friend. "Why didn't you tell me?" asked
the judge.

"I hoped it didn't show up," she replied.

Speaking to all drug court participants, Lane said, "So you lie to get away
for the next year. You think you keep it clean for a year then go back to
drugs. My hope is that sometime in the next year your heads pop out of your
butts and you decide you want to quit using."

Lane indicated some drug court participants continue to ingest ingredients
that supposedly mask drug use. "That's stupid," he said. "We're here to
help you and you are trying to beat the system."

To Vicki he said: "I made a promise and I have to keep it or nobody will
believe me. One week in jail."

"OK," said Vicki.

Amy's brief vacation from an in-house rehabilitation program was
short-lived. Temporarily released from Salvation Army treatment available
in Las Vegas due to an undisclosed medical condition, Amy used meth and was
late for her counseling sessions or missed them altogether. She even blew
off her doctor's appointment.

"You can't stop using," Lane said to the young mother of four children who
are in the care of relatives or the state. "You're not capable of not
using. That's why you're in the in-house program so we can try to turn a
light on in your head."

Amy said she had not used drugs for four days. "Test me, please," she said.

Rather than have her tested, Lane ordered Amy to jail until a bed becomes
available in another Las Vegas-based treatment center. A deputy will drive
her to her doctor's appointment, which had been rescheduled for today.

Dennis told Lane and the drug court team his week "went well." He lied, and
it wasn't the first time. Dennis' week was not a total loss. He did manage
to make his 12-step meetings and his counseling sessions, but did not have
an answer for Lane when advised one of his urine drops came up dirty. "I've
been clean for 22 days," said Dennis. "I can't understand why I'm dirty."

"When life is unfair do you relapse?" asked Lane.

"No sir," said Dennis. "I take the bad with the good." Dennis was given the
opportunity to prove his philosophy held water. Lane gave the man two days
in jail and ordered him to write a 500-word essay that focuses on his past
drug use.

Dennis took the news in stride.

Theresa continues to use, and her reasons for doing so sometimes border on
the ludicrous. Still, the young woman has made notable progress since
coming into the program several weeks ago, but the drug court team fears a
recent development in her life might cause her to fall down.

She has begun a relationship with a young man and it is a common belief
that people in recovery should refrain from becoming involved until they
are clean and sober for at least a year. "Men are OK," deadpanned Lane,
"but women will break your heart."

Theresa said she used meth because her grandmother is ailing, and advised
the judge she has addressed her drug use with her counselor.

Said Lane: "Last year my mom died and my kids almost died of E. Coli ... I
didn't go out and use."

"Yeah," replied Theresa. "But you aren't an addict." Theresa was not
sanctioned, but she was assigned another 1,000-word essay. Theresa
apparently has a talent for putting her thoughts to paper. Lane said one
she wrote last week was "good enough to be published." He promised her,
however, that the letter would remain confidential.

Fred, drug court's first participant to advance into phase two, continues
to shine. He said his only problem these days is finding energy after
working in the sun all day. "I'm getting complacent," he said. "I get home
in the afternoon and all I want to do is go to sleep."

Complacent, but not resigned. Four months after being arrested while living
in squalid conditions, Fred has found a home to share with his wife and
children. Fred's wife is halfway through an in-house treatment program in
Las Vegas and could be accepted into drug court upon her release. Their two
young children are in the care of the state, and the couple is making
inroads into getting them back.

While still new, Liz is demonstrating greater willpower than some of her
peers have. She has made her meetings and counseling sessions, and her
urine drops test clean. "Keep up the good work," said Lane.

Former Nye County deputy Brian Norton has been hired as a district court
bailiff, but his job will entail much more than ensuring a safe courtroom.
In fact, Norton will be a constant presence in the lives of drug court
participants.

The man has the authority to randomly show up at a participant's home to
make sure they are not in violation of the 11 p.m. curfew. He can collect
urine specimens and has the power to search a participant's home. "Don't
get mad at him," said Lane. "Get as mad as you want at me within reason.
Just don't go flipping me off."

And that leads back to Joan, who got off on the wrong foot with Lane when
she offered the judge the crude hand gesture several weeks ago. She was
given two weeks in the bucket for her troubles.

Joan appeared to be on the right path last week, but her failure to appear
on Monday poses a significant threat to her continued participation.