Pubdate: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX) Copyright: 2001 Amarillo Globe-News Contact: http://amarillonet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13 Author: Jesus Arenas JURY SENTENCES SLATON WOMAN TO LIFE IN PRISON A 37-year-old Slaton woman received a life prison term Friday for dealing drugs. A jury on Thursday convicted Jackie Thomas, also known as Jackie Perry, of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a first-degree felony. The same 12-member jury deliberated for 50 minutes Friday before agreeing on the life sentence - the maximum for the offense. Thomas faced a minimum of 15 years because of a prior felony drug- dealing conviction. Prosecutor George Leal said he was pleased with the sentence. "It sends a message if you're dealing or distributing drugs, citizens of the county are tired of that, and they will deal very harshly with that," he said. Thomas was convicted based on evidence Lubbock police confiscated when they searched her home March 19. They found scales, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and 36 grams of methamphetamine, according to court testimony. During prosecutor Chris Strowd's closing statement at the sentencing hearing, Thomas cried and covered her face. Strowd told the jury to consider two things for the punishment: the crime and the criminal. Strowd listed a series of events from Thomas' life during the last 10 years. He said Thomas was given probation in 1991 for the same crime she was found guilty of Thursday. In 1996, she violated her probation by committing the same crime again and was sentenced to three years in prison. On May 1, 2000, Thomas was arrested for trading drugs for stolen property. On Aug. 4, 2000, a search warrant was executed at a house in Lubbock, and Thomas was there. Drugs were found in her purse. On March 15, a police officer pulled over a car Thomas was in and found drugs and needles in the car. A few days later, the search warrant was executed at her home, and the drugs and paraphernalia were confiscated. "The defendant has had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity," Strowd said. "She has come to the end of the road. Enough is enough." Defense attorney Angela Trench asked the jury to give Thomas an "opportunity to turn her life around for her family, for herself." Trench said Thomas needed help to cure her addiction. She said, "No one should be thrown in prison for addiction. She is not going to get help in prison." Leal told jury members during his closing statement that they could make a stand against Thomas and other drug dealers. "Don't you cry for her. Don't feel sorry for her," he said."Feel sorry for the people who were burglarized. "Stand up for citizens of this county. Stand up for yourselves," Leal said. "Enough is enough. We will not tolerate it." - --- MAP posted-by: GD