MOCK TRIAL, REAL LESSON: COURTROOM CLASS SHOWS CONSEQUENCES OF DEALING DRUGS

CHINA GROVE - Students got a taste of what it would be like to be on trial
for possession of drugs last week at China Grove Middle School.

Court officials presented a mock trial for students as part of their drug
awareness month.

Richard Brooke, a 14-year-old eighth-grader, played the part of the
defendant, charged with possession of Ecstasy.

Ecstasy is an illegal psychoactive drug that both stimulates the user and
causes them to hallucinate.

South Rowan High School Resource Officer and Landis Police Officer Leigh
Brown escorted Brooke, whose character had previously been convicted of
possession of marijuana, into the packed gymnasium in an orange jumpsuit,
with shackles on his hands and feet.

Local attorney Thomas Brooke, father of student Richard Brooke, represented
the young defendant.

Guidance counselor Patricia Reese, who coordinated the event, and her
helpers set up the gym like a court room.

Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown opened the mock trial, and
District Attorney Bill Kenerly called first witness Principal Don Bost.

Bost testified that he received information from another student that
Brooke had offered her some pills. Upon inspection, Bost found Brooke in
possession of three Ecstasy pills.

In his defense, Brooke testified that he made good grades, was involved
with the band and in several athletic teams. He claimed to not know the
pills were illegal drugs.

Brooke told the judge he had received them at a party. He told someone he
had a headache and they gave him six pills he thought were aspirin. After
taking them, "my headache felt fine, but I didn't remember anything until
the next morning," he said.

Judge Brown found Brooke guilty of felonious possession of a controlled
substance.

Prior to sentencing, Juvenile Court Counselor Kecia Waddell informed the
judge that the boy's father was currently serving a prison sentence, that
the boy had undergone a substance abuse assessment and been referred to
counseling, had missed several days of school and had been suspended four
times.

Judge Brown addressed Brooke's mother, played by Ketti Overcash, who
described him as a good boy who made a mistake.

"It's not really his fault," she said.

Judge Brown sentenced Brooke to substance abuse treatment in a residential
center, with intensive probation for three months after his release. During
that period he would be restricted to electronic house arrest and subject
to random drug screening.

Judge Brown informed Brooke's mother that she would be responsible for
attending counseling with her son at the treatment center, and that if she
did not comply, she could be held in contempt of court.

Following the mock trial, Judge Brown opened the floor to questions.

One student asked whether it was a real trial, to which Judge Brown assured
them it was not.

Richard Brooke has previous acting experience with Piedmont Players and in
church productions.

Many students had questions about how house arrest works.

Waddell explained that the system is monitored in Raleigh. If the person
violates his curfew by going outside the house or tampering with the ankle
brace, the monitor notifies the juvenile's probation officer.

Students also asked about the punishment for possession of marijuana.

Judge Brown explained that possessing even a trace amount of marijuana -
even if a student has no prior record - could result in a five-day stay in
juvenile detention. On the second offense, the punishment is 14 days.

Judge Brown said last week's mock trial was absolutely consistent with what
he sees in juvenile court. "The object (of the mock trial) was not to scare
them straight," but to educate the students.