Source:  San Jose Mercury News
Contact: Posted at 9:08 a.m. PDT Friday, July 25, 1997 

Rocker Rick Danko convicted of heroin smuggling

CHIBA, Japan (AP)  Rick Danko, bassist for the legendary rock group The 
Band, was found guilty today of colluding with his wife to smuggle heroin 
into Japan, but received a suspended sentence and won't go to jail.

Danko was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Chiba District Court, but 
the sentence was suspended for five years, meaning that he won't serve time if 
he doesn't commit any crimes in Japan during that period.

The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer was released from custody later today and was 
also expected to return home today. Originally from Ontario, Danko has lived 
in New York for many years.

Danko, wearing a thick beard and shoulderlength hair, was led into the 
courtroom handcuffed and flanked by two prison guards.

After reading the verdict, presiding Judge Yasuro Tanaka urged Danko to 
follow through on a promise he made at his initial court session earlier this 
month to seek professional help for his heroin habit.

``I hope very much that you quit drugs, rehabilitate yourself and start playing 
music again soon,'' Tanaka said.

``I've been drugfree for three months, so that's a start,'' Danko replied. He 
was led out of the court shortly after the verdict was read and released from 
custody later.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 2 1/2 years, but the three 
judges decided  to give Danko a suspended sentence given the small amount 
of drugs involved and Danko's contributions to society through his music 
and gifts to charity.

Danko, who was arrested May 6 during a tour of Japan, had claimed in earlier 
testimony that he had not intended to have the 0.04 ounce of heroin shipped 
to him here.

Danko said he had asked his wife to send him some ``medication'' from the 
United States, presuming she would understand he meant the drug codeine, 
for which he has a prescription.

Danko, who is 54, admitted using heroin in the past to suppress persistent pain 
in his back and neck caused by a 1968 car accident. He also admitted to 
snorting heroin on the flight to Japan in April.

Danko, who was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, became 
well known as a singer and bassist for The Band, a mainly Canadian group that 
first won fame for backing up Bob Dylan during a 196566 world tour.