COMMISSIONER'S SON HAS 30 YEARS TO PAY DEBT TO COURT, PLUS 2-YEAR DELAY

Knox County Commissioner Diane Jordan secured a two-year delay in paying
$11,000 in fines and court costs for her son, an admitted cocaine dealer
who now is working at a public-housing project. With his felony convictions
as a drug dealer, Toi Melvin probably would have a hard time getting an
apartment in a housing project, but he has obtained employment at one.

"Our policy stipulates that if you have a drug conviction, we can deny you
housing," said Alvin Nance, president and CEO of Knoxville's Community
Development Corp.

Melvin, 26, was arrested in 1997 and pleaded guilty in April to four counts
of selling or possessing cocaine with the intent to sell. He had faced up
to 30 years imprisonment on each of 10 counts of selling and delivering
cocaine.

In a plea agreement, Melvin was sentenced to 16 years' probation on the
Community Alternatives to Prison Program, which is operated by the Knox
County Sheriff's Department.

Other drug charges against Melvin from 1998 were dismissed as part of that
agreement. In addition, 1999 charges of unlawful use of stolen license
plates and driving on a revoked license were dismissed. Charges in 2000 of
public intoxication, evading arrest and simple possession of marijuana also
were dismissed.

Melvin agreed in April to pay Knox County Criminal Court $30 a month on
$11,015 in fines and costs from the cocaine convictions, records show. At
that rate it would take him more than 30 years to pay off the debt if no
interest accrues.

On Nov. 8, Criminal Court sent Melvin a notice that he hadn't paid anything
and had 15 days to make payments or face court action. On Nov. 21, another
letter from Criminal Court states that Melvin "does not have to start
paying on his court costs again until April 27, 2003."

Martha Phillips, Knox County criminal court clerk, said she agreed to the
delay in payments after a meeting with Jordan.

"Diane Jordan came in to see me sometime in November and said her son was
having a really hard time getting his life together," Phillips said. "She
said he was paying child support and making minimum wage and just didn't
have the money."

Phillips said other mothers have appealed to her in the past on behalf of
their children.

"I've reduced the amount of payments and delayed payments, but I've never
forgiven the costs entirely," she said.

"As far as I know, it's the first commissioner to ever make that kind of
request."

Jordan said she approached Phillips with the plea for help because "Toi
stutters and has a problem speaking."

The commissioner said she is aware of other people who have gotten payments
delayed. "Nobody has made any exceptions for my son that anybody else can't
get," Jordan said.

Jordan seemed perturbed about questions regarding her son's employment at KCDC.

"My son is doing really good and working hard," she said. "There are not
enough opportunities for these people, and that's why people end up back in
prison. This is penalizing my son because he's my son."

Melvin's first day with the CAPP started off rocky, according to records.
He told his probation officer May 1 he hadn't smoked marijuana for a year
but then tested positive that day for the drug. He later admitted he had
smoked pot three weeks prior to the test.

Melvin told the CAPP officer he "sold drugs for money and so I could get my
drugs," records show. Melvin said he smoked about $50 worth of marijuana
each day and had twice been through rehabilitation programs.

"He claims he never has used cocaine or any other drugs," the CAPP file noted.

Despite the drug convictions, Melvin was hired Sept. 5 as a custodian at
Austin Homes Housing Development, according to Denise Campbell, director of
Human Resources with KCDC. Melvin was hired as a part-time employee who can
work up to 40 hours a week.

"His primary duty is to keep the debris picked up and keep the appearance
up to standard," Campbell said.

Nance said he had no input in Melvin's hiring. Melvin "went through the
screening process," Nance said, including drug testing before being hired.

While Nance said a drug conviction could keep a person out of public
housing, KCDC has the option of reviewing each case. If someone is "trying
to turn their life around," Nance said, and would not pose a danger to
other tenants, they could still get public housing despite having a drug
record.

Similarly, Nance said KCDC does hire convicted drug dealers, even though
public housing projects are a hotbed for illicit drug trade.

"If I had someone who was trying to turn their life around, I would be
willing to give somebody a chance," he said.

Melvin could not be reached for comment.