Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2007
Source: Wausau Daily Herald (WI)
Copyright: 2007 Wausau Daily Herald
Contact: 
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/contactus/readerservices/letter_to_editor.shtml
Website: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1321
Author: Karen Madden
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

NEARLY 100 SERVE TIME IN WOOD CO. BUST

WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- The majority of people arrested in connection 
with what was called Wood County's largest drug bust served time in 
jail, according to an analysis of the almost 150 cases involved.

With all but one of the cases concluded from the bust that happened 
more than 18 months ago, the numbers tell part of the story. Of a 
list of 141 defendants related to the drug investigation, seven 
received prison sentences and 90 received jail time. Two defendants 
had their charges dismissed at their preliminary hearing and one was 
found not guilty by a jury.

It was disturbing to learn how prevalent drug availability was in the 
Wisconsin Rapids area, Wood County District Attorney Todd Wolf said. 
Anyone could have a marijuana connection in a matter of minutes by 
simply walking up to someone they knew used, and asking for the information.

All of the defendants originally faced felony charges. Through plea 
bargains, 69 had their charges reduced to misdemeanors, 25 of which 
received deferred sentences where the defendant entered a guilty plea 
to a charge, but the judge did not find them guilty. If the defendant 
completes a specified set of requirements, such as attending a 
treatment program, the charge is dismissed.

"Our goal in this was to certainly make the community aware of what 
was going on and the fact that we weren't going to ignore the fact 
that drugs are being sold," Wood County Sheriff Thomas Reichert said.

When the undercover operation began, there was no end to the 
availability of drugs to purchase, said Wood County Circuit Court 
Judge Edward Zappen Jr. For the most part, it wasn't a group of big 
time dealers, just a lot of kids wrapped up in the drug culture.
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