Pubdate: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 Source: Boston Globe (MA) Copyright: 2001 Globe Newspaper Company Contact: P.O. Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378 Feedback: http://extranet.globe.com/LettersEditor/default.asp Website: http://www.boston.com/globe/ Author: Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press MAN POSES AS INMATE FOR 15 MONTHS ATLANTA - Pierre Carlton easily fooled federal authorities, who, after all, aren't used to people trying to sneak into prison. Carlton agreed to serve another man's 20-month prison sentence after he was promised cash and crack, authorities say. He spent 15 months posing as Dexter Mathis and proved to be a model prisoner. Carlton earned a high school equivalency certificate, kicked his drug habit, and spent most of his time reading. Then, 47 days from being released early for good behavior, Carlton got sick of pretending and didn't show up at a halfway house. Now, authorities have found the real Mathis, who allegedly cooked up the scheme when he was out on bail after pleading guilty to receiving $2,762 in proceeds from a bank robbery. Mathis is back in jail and has pleaded innocent to conspiracy charges that could add five years to his original sentence. Mathis's lawyer, Steven Berne, said his client was only trying to help Carlton by sending him to a minimum security prison where he could get off drugs. ''Mr. Carlton had a drug addiction, and Mr. Mathis educated him on the benefits of drug treatment in prison,'' Berne said yesterday. ''This was a decision made by Mr. Carlton.'' However, authorities say Mathis was Carlton's drug supplier and was able to persuade Carlton to serve his sentence by offering him cash and crack after his release. On June 7, 1999, Mathis drove Carlton to the US marshal's office, where Carlton, who had memorized Mathis's biographical information, turned himself in. Carlton is 32 and Mathis is 31, but the pair don't look much alike. Carlton is at least 4 inches shorter than Mathis, who is 6 foot 3 and weighs more than 200 pounds. ''The only thing they have in common is they're both black males,'' said Paul Kish, Carlton's lawyer. He said Carlton has pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and will probably face probation. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens