Tenth Of Ongoing Series

DRUG COURT FIRST: ALL 11 PARTICIPANTS 'CLEAN'

Note: The following article is the 10th 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 have been altered for purposes of confidentiality; their
photographs will not be printed.

The promise of drug court revealed itself in stunning fashion Monday
afternoon when each of the program's 11 participants successfully completed
- to one degree or another - the various conditions required of them. The
milestone came 10 weeks after Fifth District Judge Robert Lane and members
of the drug court team began the innovative program, which is designed to
treat addiction rather than imprison those who use methamphetamine and
other narcotics.

Another milestone was reached when Fred was promoted to phase two of the
three-phase program, marking the first occasion a participant has advanced.
One requirement to move forward is to pass 12 consecutive drug tests over a
six-week period. Fred has done that as well as made the three mandatory
counseling sessions and three 12-step meetings each week.

Fred's promotion came in the nick of time. The man has a new job with a
major employer in the region and he'll switch shifts every week. One
benefit of phase two is that participants only have to appear before Lane
every other week rather than every Monday afternoon.

Lane said the drug court team discussed Fred's employment circumstances "in
depth," and even talked about kicking him out of the program. It is an
absolute imperative that participants are able to attend court each Monday
afternoon. Instead, the decision was made to reward Fred for his stellar
performance to date. "We decided you were doing so well we'd put you in
phase two," Lane said.

Fred still must submit twice weekly random urine drops, and because of his
employment situation Lane ordered the man to pay for his own tests in Las
Vegas. The fee is $47 for each drop, a fact Parole and Probation Officer
and drug court team member Robert Raymond said he would try to mitigate.

Lane's law clerk and drug court coordinator Bobbie Neal advised the judge
that Fred was ready to advance. As a personal reward, the judge gave Fred a
copy of Blaine M. Yorgason's "Charlie's Monument," a book he said Fred
would find inspirational. After Monday's session, Fred told the Pahrump
Valley Times that drug court has " probably been the best thing to happen
to me in my life."

His wife is currently undergoing a court-ordered 90-day in-house
rehabilitation. Last week she said she was nervous, and would miss her
family while in rehab, but that she was "just as committed" as her husband
is to stop using methamphetamine.

Following her in-house treatment, Fred's wife is expected to seek
acceptance into drug court, and ultimately the couple hopes to regain
custody of their children, who are currently being cared for by the state.

Another drug court defendant working to reunite with her children is Amy.
She went by a different pseudonym in previous drug court articles, but the
Pahrump Valley Times this week was made aware her former "name" hit too
close to home, causing her and her family distress. Amy usually comes to
court in a mood somewhere between perky and hyper, but on Monday she was
clearly depressed.

Her sadness must have been of a personal nature because the woman performed
admirably during the week. Amy passed her drug tests; she attended her
counseling sessions, though she was significantly late for one of them.
There was confusion regarding her attendance at the three 12-step meetings
she must attend, but Deputy District Attorney and drug court teammate Pete
Knight said her vouchers appeared valid, and she will offer verification to
the court when it next meets Monday afternoon.

Amy has moved into the home of a single father to care for his children,
and is earning room and board plus $100 a week in salary. "He read about me
in the newspaper," she said. "All he thinks is that I need a place to
live." Amy said she accepted the job offer for reasons most of us wouldn't
want to have to consider. "I can live there without having to sleep with
him," she said in a matter of fact way, offering insight on how treacherous
life can be for troubled young women, even those who are trying to clean up
their acts.

Success stories number three and four are newlyweds Greg and Cathy, who
were married over the weekend. The couple is expecting a baby in the near
future, and both have performed well in drug court after a relapse early on.

"Just loving life, that's all," Greg said when Lane asked him how he was doing.

"It's wonderful about you and (Cathy)," Lane said. "I want to get you two a
wedding gift."

"How about a get of jail free card," replied Greg, a lighthearted comment
that elicited laughter among the drug court team and Greg's peers in the
program.

Because Cathy is drug court's lone volunteer participant, she has been
unable to get started with counseling or submitting urine drops, but
according to drug court team members she will begin the program perhaps as
early as next week.

While Cathy has not been drug tested for several weeks, Greg's negative
tests might be enough to convince the drug court team she is staying clean.
She looks healthy, and she and Greg were all smiles after their marriage
was announced and loudly applauded.

For the second straight week, John has shown his commitment to get clean
after having a few rough weeks early in the program. The first person
accepted into drug court, John tested clean following one urine drop, and
missed another after "being detained by Nye County's finest" last week.
John continues to struggle with meeting every condition placed on him, but
he has ceased blaming others for his shortfalls.

Incidentally, John said police searched his vehicle for over an hour -
probationers waive rights the rest of us take for granted - and evidently
didn't find drugs or paraphernalia. He said he's still living with his
mother and is staying out of trouble.

Drug court teammates agree. John's counselors said that even though he was
late for his sessions, he has actively participated and sanctions were not
recommended. "I won't be late anymore," John said.

Lane replied to coordinator Neal: "Write that down." Lane defended the Nye
County's Sheriff's Office, saying he had a lot of respect for the police.

"That's why they're Nye County's finest," John replied with a smile on his
face.

Back on track after a relapse, apparently, is Vicki. One week free after
seven days in jail for testing dirty, she attended her mandatory meetings,
tested clean, and has begun community service work with a local pastor at
Mission Bautista.

"I've heard good things about you," Lane said to Paul, who has had an
auspicious start. For the second time since being entered into the program
two weeks ago, Paul has tested clean and made his meetings. He said he
starts a new job Monday.

"Is it a good job?" Lane asked.

"I don't know yet, sir" replied Paul.

Smiling and offering Judge Lane a shy wave, Joe came into court a few
moments late, but he was excused after the judge heard he rode his bicycle
roughly four miles in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees.

Joe continues to meet the conditions of drug court, is working part-time,
and is doing fine in Pahrump. He has legal problems in Las Vegas however,
reportedly related to traffic infractions, and Lane said he would help the
man if "things go bad" in Clark County.

Joan and Theresa had decent weeks since entering the program seven days
earlier. Joan apparently misunderstood when she would begin drug court, so
she essentially began anew Monday, with no sanctions.

Theresa fulfilled her obligations, and said she's "just trying to stay busy."

Last week's lone problem child was Dennis, and it looks like a few nights
in jail helped to motivate the man. Dennis made his meetings, and said he
particularly enjoys the Narcotics Anonymous sessions. "I try to get as much
as I can out of it, sir," he told the judge. "I'm doing well. I'm staying
away from the bad people."

Following court, Lane and other members of the team rejoiced. "I'm so
excited," said Lane of Monday's positive court session. "I'm walking on
cloud nine. I'm very proud of everyone."

Lane said he had heard about the successes experienced by other drug courts
in the country - at last count there were at least 750 of them in operation
with more being developed every day - and that he hopes drug court in
Pahrump can realize the same results.

Prosecutor Knight was as ecstatic as the judge was. "It feels good having
some minor part in getting people to change their lifestyle. It feels
fantastic." Knight was insistent the credit falls on the participants
themselves, because "it's all about choices."

Said Knight: "The really good thing is we don't take credit for anyone
getting sober because we can't take the blame if they don't get sober."

Now that every current participant in drug court has proven they can get
through a week in the strictly regimented program, it truly has become a
matter of living life on new terms. The group has bonded, and there appears
to be an all for one, one for all mentality developing that would have made
Alexandre Dumas proud. In the end, drug court is an individual challenge,
one that is designed to help addicts live life without methamphetamine -
one day at a time.