Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jul 2001
Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN)
Copyright: 2001 The Evansville Courier
Contact:  http://courier.evansville.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/138
Author: Byron Rohrig

LENGTHY DRUG SENTENCE MODIFIED

Toshio Roach, whose 1992 drug conviction led indirectly to a city police
narcotics officer's imprisonment for theft and attempted extortion,
could be a free man in six months.

Roach, 43, sentenced in January 1993 to 50 years in prison after he was
found guilty of conspiring to deal cocaine, was ordered released from
the state prison system Monday and directed to spend a year at the SAFE
House.

Since state sentences are routinely cut in half with good behavior,
Roach could be out by the eighth anniversary of his sentencing, which
occurred when he was 35.

Roach is being released early because he asked for a sentence
modification. Roach's attorney, Dennis Brinkmeyer, Prosecutor Stan Levco
and Circuit Judge Carl Heldt all agreed to the modification.

When Roach was sentenced, Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Parkhurst said a
sentence less than 45 years would "diminish the seriousness" of the
crime. On Monday, Parkhurst noted Roach has done "well since he was in
prison."

"This is not unlike other drug cases in which sentences have been
modified in hopes the individual has been rehabilitated."

Circuit Court Magistrate David Kiely on Monday warned Roach the sentence
modification would be revoked if Roach violates any rules at the SAFE
House.

But if Roach maintains a clean record during his six-month "real time"
stay, Kiely told him the remainder of the sentence would be suspended.

Roach's case also led to the arrest of former city narcotics officer
Richard Whitlow, who attempted to extort $100,000 from Roach's father,
Harris Roach, who was in the courtroom Monday when the change in his
son's sentence was granted.

Police arrested Whitlow near an East Side motel. Whitlow was picked up
just after officers saw him pick up a "bait box," which he was told
contained $100,000 left by Harris Roach.

Harris Roach, a police officer in the Air Force for 23 years, had
reported to police he had received a note and a phone call from someone
who said he could make evidence in his son's case disappear for money.

Roach's report led to Whitlow's arrest. Whitlow was convicted of
attempted extortion in the Roach case and of theft. Whitlow was found
guilty of stealing a gun, jewelry and at least $6,000 from another drug
dealer. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and actually served five
years.

Levco said the Whitlow case did not influence his agreement to a change
in sentence.

"Basically, (Roach) got a very long sentence and he had a good (prison)
record ... I thought he was a good candidate for that," Levco said.

Roach's wife, Debra Ann Rankin-Roach, was released from prison two years
ago. She served a lesser sentence in connection with a drug operation in
which she and Toshio Roach brought cocaine to the area from Indianapolis
and Atlanta.

The couple have three children ages 16, 14 and 13.
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