MILITARY POLICE OFFICER NOT GUILTY OF USING DRUGS

A military jury on Thursday found a Fort Bragg military police
officer not guilty of drug use. The MP worked as an undercover drug
agent.

Spc. Christina Nettles, who is 22, was acquitted on all charges of
using Ecstasy, obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty at her
court-martial.

She is a covert agent with Fort Bragg's Criminal Investigation
Division's Drug Suppression Team and a member of the 118th Military
Police Company.

Nettles, who had remained stoic and expressionless throughout two
days of testimony, covered her mouth with her hand and cried when the
jury president, a colonel, announced the verdict.

The jury of eight officers and noncommissioned officers deliberated
for two hours and 20 minutes before reaching a verdict. Two-thirds of
the jury, or six of the eight members, must concur for a guilty
verdict.

Nettles' lawyer, Maj. Jennifer McGee, hugged Nettles and cried with
her. Nettles also received hugs from military police officer friends.

Nettles was one of 13 military police officers from the 16th Military
Police Brigade charged with illegal drug activity. She, along with
Spc. Robert Ybarra, another MP, faced the most serious of charges in
unrelated cases.

In October, Ybarra was sentenced to two years in prison for using and
selling drugs.

Nettles' court-martial began Wednesday. She did not take the stand.

Throughout the trial the prosecution portrayed Nettles as a drug user
who tried to get her friends to lie about her drug use at Club
Odyssey, a gay nightclub in Winston-Salem, in November and December
2000 and March 2001.

''Specialist, then investigator, Nettles was paid to fight crime, not
commit crime, and that's why we are here today,'' said prosecutor
Capt. John Kiel during closing arguments. ''She received specialized
training, all of which she put in her tool bag to commit a crime.''

Defense arguments

In her closing arguments, McGee told the jury the case was about
reasonable doubt. McGee called two of the prosecution's witnesses
''inherently unbelievable'' and ''confirmed liars'' who were trying
to protect themselves.

Pvt. Kevin Whitehead and Spc. Ryan Johnson, both MPs in the 118th
Military Police Company, received immunity for their testimony
against Nettles. Both had testified that they used Ecstasy with
Nettles at Club Odyssey and that she later told them to lie about
what happened when the Army began an investigation.

Both admitted to lying in their initial sworn statements that they
and Nettles had not taken drugs. They changed their stories when
faced with their own charges.

Kiel said during closing arguments that the prosecution made no
apologies for putting the two, who had been Nettles' friends, on the
witness stand.

''They aren't choir boys,'' Kiel said. ''Choir boys don't hang out
with drug users. Drug users hang out with drug users.''

Thursday's testimony included statements from Nettles' supervisors
about her good character and work ethic.

Darren Petri, who had been Nettles supervisor and is now a deputy
with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, said Nettles was a hard
worker and excelled at performing her duties.

Under cross examination by Capt. Thomas Hurley, Petri was asked if it
was true that he and Nettles had oral sex during stakeouts.

''When she asked you to testify, you couldn't say no because she had
some dirt on you?'' Hurley said.

Petri said he never had sexual relations with Nettles.

Sgt. Bryan Lynch, who is Nettles' squad leader, testified that
Nettles was very dependable and required little supervision.

Expert witnesses in forensic toxicology also testified about drug
analysis performed on strands of Nettles' hair.

The results of a general screening test were negative, according to
testimony by Dr. James Bourland, an expert in toxicology and hair
testing. Bourland testified for the defense, but did say the hair
test was designed for regular drug use.

''We may not be able to find infrequent use,'' he said.