Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2003 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 Author: Clyde L. Stancil, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TEEN GETS 26 YEARS FOR SCHOOL DRUG SALE MOULTON - A Lawrence County High School student pleaded guilty Monday to selling drugs at school and received sentences totaling 26 years in prison. Webster Alexander, 19, of 2161 Lawrence County 180, Moulton, received the jail time for six drug charges, including four for distributing controlled substances at the school. Lawrence County District Attorney Jim Osborn said the sentences were stiff, but justified. "Distribution of a controlled substance is a serious offense any time, but it is especially serious when it's on school property," he said. The other two charges were for first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Lawrence County Circuit Judge Philip Reich sentenced Alexander to 13 years on each distribution charge. He gave him three years for the act of selling on campus, five years for selling drugs within three miles of a school and five years for selling within three miles of a housing project. Reich ordered Alexander to serve two of the distribution sentences consecutively. He will serve the other two at the same time he serves the first two. Reich also sentenced Alexander to five years on the marijuana charge and six months on the paraphernalia charge. Alexander applied for probation and is free on bond pending a probation hearing. Authorities arrested Alexander at his home April 9, 2002, after an undercover agent with the Lawrence County Drug Task Force identified him as one of the students selling drugs at school. The agent posed as a student for six weeks and made several drug buys. An hour after authorities arrested Alexander, they arrested Cordine Bush, 19, in the school's cafeteria and charged him with two counts of selling to the undercover officer. Authorities made a simultaneous raid at the home of Rodney Hicks, 18, of 1460 Lawrence County 180, and charged him with one count of sale to the undercover officer, first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Bush's case is pending. The next plea docket is in March. Hicks received youthful offender status. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager