EFHS STUDENT FORFEITS CAR ON DRUG COUNT

Senior Pleads Guilty To Possession

East Fairmont High School senior Austin Levi Hopkins won't be driving his
1990 Acura to school -- or anywhere else -- in the future.

That's because on Tuesday, Hopkins, 18, forfeited his car after pleading
guilty in Monongalia County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor drug charge,
possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.

Things could have been much worse for Hopkins. On Dec. 27, 2001, he had
been arrested by Morgantown Police Officer D.M. Slavenski on a felony
charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver the illegal drug.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Perri DeChristopher said four bags of
marijuana were found in Hopkins' car, containing 68 grams of marijuana,
along with a box of bags and scales for weighing the drug.

On Jan. 16, a magistrate found probable cause and bound Hopkins over to the
county grand jury for possible indictment on the felony charge.

But Hopkins reached a plea agreement with DeChristopher under which he
waived his right to indictment and was permitted to plead guilty to the
lesser charge, which DeChristopher presented to Chief Judge Russell M.
Clawges Jr., in a prosecutor's information.

DeChristopher recommended a 6-month jail sentence for Hopkins, but will not
oppose suspension of the sentence and probation if a pre-sentence
investigation report shows that Hopkins is a good candidate.

However, while Hopkins can't withdraw his guilty plea, Clawges isn't bound
by the agreement and could impose the maximum penalty under state law --
meaning that he could send Hopkins to jail for six months and fine him $1,000.

Hopkins, who lives in Morgantown, remains free on bond pending sentencing.