UNCERTAIN FUTURE

A 20-year-old Newfield man faces 15 years-to-life in prison after being
convicted last week of possessing more than three pounds of cocaine in his
Tompkins Cortland Community College residence hall suite.

"He was convicted of all counts, which means the judge completely accepted
our theory of the case," said George Dentes, district attorney for Tompkins
County. Dale Worrall, assistant district attorney, prosecuted the case.

In December of last year, police found about 3.5 pounds of cocaine-worth
about $300,000-, more than 40 Ecstacy tabs and weighing scales, in the
suite occupied by William Marshall, the former TC3 student in question. His
roommates were also arrested, but charges against them were dropped.

Marshall pled not guilty, but Dentes said the judge did not seem to
question the facts presented.

"It's on appeal, where they can ask another court to look at the facts," he
said. "We don't think it's even a close question, but they have a right to
appeal."

Dentes did not want to speculate on who Marshall may have been buying from
and selling to, because he did not want to jeapardize ongoing
investigations, he said.

"Tompkins Cortland Community College is not any particular drug area," he
said. "We do not allege that he was selling out of his room." He added,
"The administration at TC3 was very cooperative and very intent on the
facts coming out."

Marshall's sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 22, and he will remain
in the Tompkins County jail until that time. Under New York's Rockefeller
Drug Laws, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life and a maximum
sentence of 25 years to life.

Pete Meyers of the Tompkins County Interfaith Coalition to Reform the
Rockefeller Drug Laws said coalition members met with Marshall's father,
who in turn participated in their most recent rally, held in Albany in March.

"It seems to be out of proportion," to the crime, Meyers said of Marshall's
likely sentence. "We think the judge should have discretion in this situation."

Meyers said coalition members would not debate Marshall's guilt or
innocence, but think judges should determine sentences for those convicted
on drug charges.

Richard Wallace and Charles Guttman, Marshall's attorneys, could not be
reached for comment.