Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Tuscaloosa News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2003 The Tuscaloosa News
Contact:  http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1665

TEEN HAS DRUG SENTENCE CUT FROM 26 YEARS TO ONE YEAR

A Lawrence County teenager who sold about $350 worth of marijuana to
an undercover police officer will serve only one year of a 26-year
prison sentence.

Circuit Judge Philip Reich ruled Wednesday that Webster Alexander, 19,
must serve an additional year on probation in addition to 300 hours of
community service. The remaining 24 years of the sentence were suspended.

"There may be those that think you're not worth fooling with, and you
should be sent to prison, but I'm not of that opinion, presently,"
Reich told Alexander. "I'm going to give you an opportunity to show
you mean what you say."

Alexander will spend a month in jail before he's allowed into a work
release program, and he already has a job offer as a roofer, according
to his attorney, John Edmond Mays.

"Twenty-six years to two years, I'll take that," Alexander said as he
was escorted to jail.

Since his arrest, Alexander graduated high school, spent time in drug
rehabilitation and completed a year of college while released on probation.

"The reports that I'm seeing from staff people involved in these areas
of substance abuse treatment and counseling commend you for what
you're doing," Reich told Alexander in court.

Two years ago, as a senior at Lawrence County High School, Alexander
sold small amounts of marijuana on several occasions to an undercover
agent recruited by Principal Ricky Nichols. The transactions took
place at school and at Alexander's trailer, where he lived with his
family.

Alexander pleaded guilty in January and received the 26-year sentence.
It was his first arrest. State laws increase the penalties for selling
drugs within three miles of a school.

Word of the harsh sentence spread quickly. Since his arrest, Alexander
has been besieged with interview requests, and national
drug-legalization activists have tried to use him for their cause. But
he's done only a few interviews, including one in this week's Rolling
Stone magazine.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws offered
legal help and funding for his defense. Activists offered to send
hundreds of protesters to Alabama for a courthouse march.

All the attention upset Mays. He said he thought the advocacy groups
were looking to exploit his client and felt the attention they would
have brought only would have hurt Alexander's chances.

Mays advised Alexander to finish school and get a job, instead of protesting.
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