GASTON GETS NEW DA FOR DRUG CASES

GASTONIA - The state taketh away and the state giveth.

At a time when the state budget crunch has led to cutting judicial programs
and laying off court personnel, Gaston County has a new prosecutor who'll
specialize in drug cases.

District Attorney Mike Lands said Gaston received a $77,569 grant from the
Governor's Crime Commission.

"Our goals will be to increase the timely prosecution of drug cases," Lands
said. "We want to concentrate and locate drug offenders who could be
considered habitual felons. We want to identify first-time offenders and
steer them toward punishment with treatment."

He said Gaston County had 1,304 drug cases filed in Superior Court in
2000-2001 and 5,000 in District Court.

"This is our largest section of the caseload," Lands said.

Although coming through a state agency, Lands said, the grant money is
really from a federal program. It will pay for a prosecutor and a witness
coordinator for one year, with a possible one-year renewal.

Lands had a similar grant program in domestic violence, which ended earlier
this year.

Debra Clark took the oath of office Monday. Lands said she graduated from
law school in May 1995 and has been active in the area of bankruptcy.

Clark will work with Assistant District Attorney Craig Collins, who handles
most of the drug cases.

As part of state budget cuts, the 27-B Judicial District was scheduled to
lose an assistant district attorney. That district covers Lincoln and
Cleveland counties.