JUDGE'S SON TO SERVE 60 DAYS BEHIND BARS

Ryan Strickland Caught With Drug

It was his first conviction, although he was charged three times as a juvenile.

The son of the circuit judge who was key to bringing Drug Court to the
Roanoke Valley was convicted Tuesday on a marijuana distribution charge and
sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Ryan M. Strickland, 19, who as a juvenile had a history of drug arrests,
entered an Alford plea in an agreement with Roanoke prosecutors. The
agreement will free him from possible imprisonment on the juvenile court
charges, but could bring him four years in prison if he violates probation.

With an Alford plea, defendants maintain their innocence while
acknowledging that the evidence against them is sufficient for a conviction.

Strickland's mother, Circuit Judge Diane Strickland, has for years
advocated Drug Court, which gives addicts and small-time dealers a chance
to turn their lives around while avoiding prison sentences. When the
General Assembly slashed its funding this year, she led the successful
effort to resuscitate the program. Diane Strickland, who presides in
Roanoke County and Salem, will retire at the end of October. His father,
Art Strickland, is a Roanoke lawyer.

Tuesday's hearing brought Ryan Strickland his first drug conviction, but he
was charged three times as a juvenile - twice for possessing marijuana with
intent to distribute, and once for possessing cocaine with intent to
distribute, Roanoke Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Neil Horn said.

All of his juvenile court cases were still active when police arrested him
Sept. 19 at the Extended Stay America on Ferndale Avenue, after Roanoke
police dogs smelled marijuana in his car. Police testified in a preliminary
hearing that they found more than 3 1/2 ounces of pot in the car and in his
room, and charged him with possession with intent to distribute.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Strickland was sentenced to four
years in prison, suspended after he serves 60 days, with three years
supervised probation after his release. His driver's license was suspended
for six months, though he is eligible for a restricted license. And
prosecutors withdrew a juvenile court hearing on the three other charges,
which Horn said could have led to punishment as a juvenile or up to three
years in prison as an adult.

Retired Circuit Judge Richard Jamborsky of Fairfax County, designated to
hear the case because valley judges disqualified themselves, told
Strickland that in more than 30 years on the job, he found a common
denominator among defendants - stupidity.

"If your stupidity overwhelms your common sense in the future, while you're
on supervised probation, you will serve four years in the penitentiary,"
Jamborsky said.

Strickland, who will begin his jail term today, declined to comment afterward.