OGDENSBURG MAN SENTENCED TO 2-6 YEARS

Canton, NY -- A 37 year old Ogdensburg man accused of possession of half a pound of cocaine was sentenced to serve two to six years in state prison moments after his attorney criticized the state's drug laws that resulted in the mandatory prison sentence.

St.  Lawrence County Court Judge Eugene L.  Nicandri sentenced Lee E.  Skelly of 327 Madison Ave., Ogdensburg, to two to six years in state prison after he admitted he had possessed cocaine.  He was also ordered to pay a $210 surcharge.

His attorney, former St.  Lawrence County District Attorney Charles Gardner, noted Skelly had also agreed to forfeit $6,950 in what police called drug money as part of the plea bargain agreement.

Skelly, 37, of 327 Madison Ave., Ogdensburg, pleaded guilty under superior court information to third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The Ogdensburg man admitted he had possessed more than one half ounce of cocaine on July 19 in the village of Canton.  He was one of three people charged with allegedly possessing eight ounces of cocaine.

Gardner suggested the drug laws that required Skelly to be sentenced to prison didn't make sense.  He argued the country's war on drugs was a failure.

He noted 30 years ago Gov.  Nelson Rockefeller and the state Legislature passed the harsh drug laws.  Garner said 20 years ago First Lady Nancy Reagan said people should simply say no to drugs.  At the same time, he said Gov.  Mario Cuomo and Gov.  George Pataki moved forward with dramatic expansions in the number of prison cells in New York state.

"The war on drugs is failing.  All we are doing is putting guys like Lee Skelly in jail that have an obvious drug problem.  We've got to do something else, but I don't know what," the former prosecutor admitted.