Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jan 2005
Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA)
Copyright: 2005 Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://triblive.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460
Author: David Hunt, Tribune Review

MAN MUST BECOME WALKING BILLBOARD AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

Juan Curtis McCargo is a convicted drug offender whom a Fayette County
judge would like to spend more time with school students.

Even if youngsters in the Uniontown Area School District don't know
his name, chances are they won't forget the 29-year-old when they see
him.

Under a court order handed down this week, McCargo, of 39 Whiteman
Ave., Uniontown, will appear regularly over the next eight weeks
wearing a sign telling students about the negative consequences of
drugs.

Judge John F. Wagner ruled on the issue after the county probation
office alleged McCargo had violated the terms of a 2002 sentence by
missing meetings, skipping fine payments, avoiding court-ordered
community service and testing positive for marijuana use.

He was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2002, to three years of probation after
pleading guilty to a Feb. 17, 2002, incident in which officers found a
digital scale and a bag of white powder in his possession him during a
traffic stop in North Union Township.

Court records indicate McCargo violated his probation once before, but
Wagner ruled on June 10, 2003, that he would remain in the program.

Probation officials filed another petition to remove McCargo in
December.

Wagner again ruled that McCargo could stay, but attached a new
condition.

With the help of the county's probation department and drug and
alcohol commission, McCargo will become a walking billboard against
illegal drugs.

The order states that McCargo will appear at a Uniontown school
location once a week for the next eight weeks wearing some sort of
sign with an anti-drug message.

The order indicates permission from the school district is being
sought. Uniontown Superintendent Charles Machesky did not immediately
return a call for comment yesterday.

When asked about his decision by reporters, Wagner said he felt it
would be inappropriate to elaborate. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake