Pubdate: Sat, 04 May 2002
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2002 Cox Interactive Media.
Contact:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Craig Schneider

ALLEGED DRUG SMUGGLER INNOCENT, MOTHER SAYS

The mother of the 12-year-old boy charged with smuggling two pounds of 
heroin in his stomach affirmed his innocence Thursday and asserted he would 
be coming home with her to Norcross.

"He's coming home," Alissa Walden told reporters outside a Queens, N.Y., 
courthouse following a pretrial hearing concerning her son, Prince 
Nnaedozie Umegbolu.

Although her words were few, it marked the first time she has talked to the 
media since arriving in New York after her son's April 11 arrest at 
LaGuardia Airport.

"He is doing fine," she said, noting that she has traveled from Georgia 
several times to attend proceedings in Queens Family Court and see her son 
in juvenile detention.

Aside from those few comments Friday, Walden, who was trailed from the 
Queens courthouse by reporters firing questions, simply nodded and smiled.

She said she planned on standing by her son's side throughout the juvenile 
trial on drug possession charges, which could last weeks. She also 
acknowledged that the stress has been taking a toll on her and her family. 
She said it has been "very difficult."

Soon after Umegbolu was arrested and charged with traveling from Nigeria to 
New York with a bellyful of 87 bags of heroin, Walden portrayed her son as 
the victim of drug dealers who intimidated him into carrying the drugs.

Umegbolu was born in the United States, but was sent to live with his 
maternal grandparents in Nigeria, his mother said.

He was desperate to return home, she said. His mother said she could not 
afford the plane fare, and did not know of the boy's plan to finance his 
trip home by being a drug courier.

Wearing a tan vest and pants, Umegbolu exchanged glances with his mother in 
court Friday. His mother cried during the proceeding, and then shared some 
words with her son.

They nodded to each other before parting. Family Court Judge Fran Lubow 
heard arguments about whether the boy's statements to police can be used as 
evidence in his smuggling trial.

The arguments are expected to hinge on a few key issues: At what point 
during his statements was the boy being questioned for the purposes of 
charging him with a crime, and at what point was he read his rights?

The pretrial hearing will continue Tuesday. Walden said she plans to return 
to Norcross and be back in New York on Tuesday
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