Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jan 2001
Source: Associated Press
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press

FIRST-TIMER GETS LIFE FOR DEALING DRUGS

COVINGTON, La. (AP) -- A man who made a $50 profit when he sold heroin to 
an undercover police officer was sentenced Monday to serve the rest of his 
life in prison.

Wesley C. Dick III, 44, of Lacombe, who had no criminal record of drug 
dealing before his October conviction for distributing heroin, has not 
denied he sold the drug, but he argues that police entrapped him.

By state law, the conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

"I made a mistake," Dick said during his sentencing hearing Monday before 
state District Judge Patricia Hedges. "I'm willing to take responsibility. 
What I did was wrong. (But) I can honestly say I was not dealing drugs."

At trial, testimony showed that Dick, an admitted former heroin addict, did 
not have any heroin or the money to buy it in May 1999 when undercover 
Slidell police Detective Kevin Swann contacted him through a confidential 
informant.

When the men met on two separate occasions, however, the officer gave Dick 
money and Dick drove to New Orleans to buy the drugs for the officer, 
testimony showed.

Both transactions, which took place in Dick's car with his two young 
daughters inside, totaled about $360. Dick, who was living on food stamps 
at the time, said he made about $50 profit.

Arguing that the sentence is excessive and does not fit the crime, Dick's 
father testified during a presentencing hearing Monday.

"He made a total of $50 out of sales," Wesley Dick II said. "That's hardly 
a drug dealer."

Wesley Dick II also told the judge his son had a solid work history as an 
offshore construction inspector and had been supporting his family until he 
was hospitalized with kidney failure in 1998.

"When the Legislature put in life sentence for distribution of heroin, they 
were talking about a different guy than Wesley Dick," attorney Doyle 
"Buddy" Spell Jr., said. "What is the benefit of putting away a guy who has 
never hurt anybody?"

Spell also said that if he were in federal court, Dick would be facing a 
sentence of 30 to 50 months, not his entire life.

Spell said he planned to appeal on grounds that Dick was entrapped.
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