MySpace entries trouble for two
Men kicked out of drug court after MySpace comments
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Date published: 12/16/2007
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Ryan Olson's MySpace page says "Free Judson" across the top.
His friend Judson Harris is serving six months in jail on a drug possession charge after failing the drug court program.
And Olson could soon join him at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
The two didn't get dismissed for failing drug tests during the program or missing the mandated group sessions.
Instead, it was because of the very MySpace pages Olson is using to talk about his friend's dilemma.
"They found my MySpace, and they were not happy about it," Olson said about offensive comments he had made online poking fun at a drug court officer.
Olson, Harris and their mothers are now ready to fight the system and the felonies that will be on their records--with a little help from the American Civil Liberties Union and their attorney, Joe Brown.
STAYING CLEAN
Olson, 23, and Harris, 24, met in drug court, a diversion-style program where they attended group sessions and regular court hearings.
It is an alternative the local circuit courts often give to offenders who they think would benefit more from rehabilitation than jail.
When entering drug court, a person agrees to a guilty plea and sentence if he or she fails the program. In return, the charge gets dismissed after a successful completion.
Olson was charged with possession of ecstasy but said his "drug of choice" was marijuana.
Harris was charged with possession of heroin, and he faced charges in Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg. He was in the drug court program for both charges.
Olson said that while he was skeptical at first about drug court, he and Harris were committed to being drug-free after starting it.
"I've been clean since July 28, 2006, and I'll stick by that," he said. "Even after I was kicked out, I still stayed clean."
He said caring for his newborn son with his long-term girlfriend helps keep him drug-free.
Harris was not permitted to be interviewed in jail because he has pending charges, but his mother, Patty Smith, said she and her son are both grateful for the changes drug court helped Harris make.
She said, however, they were also upset at the way his termination was handled.
Date published: 12/16/2007
Most recent reader comments:
Even if they had the right
(posted by
poppinjay
, Jan. 11, 2008 1:57 pm)
to slander people on the internet - which they don't - when you enter into a diversionary program you sign away most of your rights relating to the case in exchange for freedom and the program. And the court can at any time say, "we think your hair is funny. Back to jail." Oh, and props to the FLS for painting a drug addled baby daddy as a decent father.
Kind of funny how Judson Harris had no prior trouble
POS.CONTROLLED SUBST Felony 05/17/05
POS CONTROLLED SUBST Felony 06/13/06
POSSESSION OF MARIJU Misdemeanor 06/13/06
but apparently not accuracy.
Corruption?
(posted by
sadieree
, Jan. 10, 2008 3:06 pm)
I'd be interseted in knwing what corruption privacy counts was referring to in the "Spotsylvania" drug court. To my knowledge the only drug court we have is located in the city and serves the entire region. Is there another one in Spotsy?
these 2 young men areen't being booted or charged with relapse. they failed to remain in compliance with drug court and are now gonna serve the time for the crimes they pleaded guilty to. they chose to plead guilty and in this state you lose many of appeals rights when you do. its not that hard to comply i've got dozens of friends that manage to and get the benifit of a clean record .those that don't get what they deserve too. some even man enough to admit it.
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