FORMER JAIL GUARD MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR DRUG COURT PROGRAM

Taber Faces Felony Drug Possession

SCHENECTADY - A former county jail guard charged with felony drug
possession is a candidate for a treatment program that could spare him
prison time, District Attorney Robert M. Carney said Wednesday.

Timothy Taber, 35, will be evaluated today for participation in Drug Court,
a county-supervised treatment program that allows suspects to avoid
incarceration for non-violent drug offenses if they stay drug free. Judge
Michael C. Eidens oversees Drug Court.

"It's not a viable disposition unless they accept him," Carney said.

Taber, who could face a maximum sentence of 8 to 25 years in state prison
if convicted of the top charge facing him - third-degree criminal
possession of a controlled substance - must prove he is drug addicted
before screeners will admit him to Drug Court. Currently he is free on bail.

Taber was fired by Sheriff Harry Buffardi on Dec. 8 after Glenville police
arrested him and another man in the parking lot of the River House Tavern
on Freemans Bridge Road. Taber, who was allegedly cutting up lines of
cocaine when police pulled up to his car, was about to celebrate another
guard's birthday at the tavern.

The man arrested with Taber that night, 36-year-old Andrew Hurd, is already
in Drug Court, Carney said.

At the time, police believed the cocaine was destined for the party, though
Taber never got inside. After their arrests, Hurd spoke to Buffardi and
identified others in the Sheriff's Department who allegedly used cocaine.
The sheriff subsequently fired five other correction officers for alleged
drug use; most are trying to win their jobs back through arbitration.

Drug Court was established last August. There are currently 54 people
enrolled, according to Ronald Butler, the program's drug treatment coordinator.

The court is open to first-time, non-violent felony offenders. Supporters
said the goal of Drug Court is to get addicts into treatment programs
rather than warehouse them in prisons.

The court is aimed at addicts rather than dealers. Someone charged with
drug sales is not eligible unless it's found the trafficking was done to
support a habit, Butler said. Those involved in drug trafficking strictly
for profit are not eligible.

Butler said he expected Taber to be heavily scrutinized because of the
amount of cocaine he was allegedly caught with. Police originally charged
Taber with intent to distribute.

"Your average cocaine user is not in possession of half an ounce," Butler said.

Before entering Drug Court, suspects must plead guilty to a crime. Their
sentence is suspended while they're in the program. Participants are
subjected to urine tests and people who test positive can be sent to jail
or prison, depending on the crime they've pleaded guilty to.