Pubdate: Mon, 20 Mar 2006
Source: McDowell News, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Media General Inc. All Rights Reserved
Contact:  http://www.mcdowellnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1765
Author: Richelle Bailey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

DRUGS ON FEDERAL LAND GET CAMPER TIME BEHIND BARS

A Buncombe County man will spend the next six months in prison after 
officers found him in possession of drugs on federal land in McDowell.

Blake Freeman Price, 21, of Asheville pleaded guilty last week in 
U.S. Magistrate Court to possession of less than one gram of cocaine.

He was sentenced to six months in federal prison to be followed by 
one year of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.

Price was in a campground in the Curtis Creek area of McDowell in 
September 2005, when he was cited by a U.S. Forest Service officer 
for possession of cocaine.

"The fact that an individual found in possession of a relatively 
small amount of cocaine on federal lands   was sentenced to a term of 
imprisonment reflects the government's aggressive attitude toward the 
threat which this type of illicit drug possession poses," said 
Gretchen C.F. Shappert, U.S. attorney for the Western District of 
North Carolina. "Citizens expect and deserve to be free to enjoy 
federal public lands with their families without having to consider 
which park or campground may not be a safe, healthy and wholesome place."

The defendant's prior criminal convictions include possession of 
marijuana and driving while impaired, the press release stated. He 
faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and up 
to five years' supervised release.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office   intends to bring all cases involving 
illegal drug possession on federal lands before the court, and we 
appreciate the efforts of the law enforcement on federal lands who 
brought this case to our attention," said Shappert. "A term of 
incarceration is entirely appropriate under the circumstances."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom