Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993 TAG: 9312210018
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LITTLE ROCK, ARK. LENGTH: Medium
Kevin Elders is accused of selling an eighth of an ounce of cocaine to undercover police at a Little Rock park July 29 for $275.
Elders, 28, was released after posting $2,500 bail.
Police issued a warrant for his arrest Wednesday, a week after his mother suggested at a National Press Club luncheon that legalizing drugs could reduce the country's crime rate.
Joycelyn Elders' spokesman declined to comment Monday, referring reporters to her son's attorney, Les Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth declined to comment.
The felony charge against Kevin Elders carries a possible sentence of 40 years to life in prison, police Lt. Charles Holladay said.
A police affidavit said the eighth of an ounce of cocaine was known as an "8 ball." It alleged that Elders delivered a plastic bag wrapped in tin foil to the undercover officers. The cocaine was inside, the affidavit said.
In a two-sentence statement Friday, Joycelyn Elders said she supported her son.
"We've told our son that we stand by him as family. In the meantime, he's asked us to refer all questions to his attorney," the former Arkansas health director said.
In her comment about drug legalization, Elders said, "I do feel it would markedly reduce our crime rate if drugs were legalized, but I don't know all of the ramifications of this, and we need to do some further studies."
She later said she was speaking for herself, not for the Clinton administration. A White House spokesman emphasized later that Clinton opposes legalization of illicit drugs.
Her son's troubles followed allegations last week by police and neighbors that a Little Rock rental house owned by Elders' husband, Oliver, was a hangout for gang members. A drug task force asked the real estate company managing the property to evict the tenants.
by CNB