5 UConn students sentenced for drugs

Five UConn students who were arrested last May on drug charges have received jail sentences in a case that involved 10 student arrests in the same day.

According to Police Maj. Ronald Blicher, all 10 cases are being heard separately and some students have not yet been sentenced.

According to the Rockville County Court, the following students are serving jail sentences:

Brian Miller, of Simsbury, was arrested in Ellsworth Hall and charged with illegal sale of marijuana, illegal possession of marijuana, illegal possession of marijuana with intent to sell, interference with a search warrant, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, interfering with a police officer and assault on a police officer. He is serving 21 months in jail as of Sept. 3, 2002, with 18 months probation.

Nicholas Kurple, a resident of Middlebury, is serving five years with a 10-year suspension as of June 13, 2002. Police charged Kurple with three counts of illegal sale of a hallucinogen (Ecstasy), illegal sale of a narcotic (heroin), illegal sale of a narcotic (Demerol), conspiracy to sell a hallucinogen, conspiracy to sell a narcotic, accessory to the sale of a narcotic, accessory to the sale of a hallucinogen, illegal possession with the intent to sell a hallucinogen, illegal possession of a narcotic, illegal possession of a hallucinogen and illegal possession of a narcotic. Kurple will also serve three years' probation.

Coventry resident Colin Whitehead was arrested by UConn police for illegal sale of a narcotic (Hydrocodone Bitartrate), illegal sale of a narcotic (Vicodin), illegal sale of marijuana, illegal possession of a narcotic with the intent to sell, illegal possession with the intent to sell marijuana, illegal possession of a narcotic (hydrocodone bitartrate), illegal possession of a narcotic (Vicodin), illegal possession of marijauna, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a drug factory and conspiracy to commit forgery. He is serving three years in jail as of Sept. 13, 2002, with an eight-year suspension and three months' probation.

Dustin Page will have a three-year suspension after serving nine months as well as two years' probation. Page, of Milford, was charged with illegal sale of marijuana, illegal possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, illegal possession of marijuana, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a drug factory.

Joseph Guigli, a resident of North Stonington, was arrested in his own town and charged with illegal sale of a hallucinogenic substance (psilocybin mushrooms), illegal sale of marijuana, illegal sale of a hallucinogen within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal sale of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, illegal possession of a hallucinogen within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal possession of a hallucinogenic substance and illegal possession of marijuana. He is serving 12 months in jail as of Oct. 21, 2002, with a six-year suspension and three years' probation.

Joseph Cabral, of Somerset, Mass., and Nathan Reed, of Rockport, Mass., will both enter an accelerated rehabilitation program. Cabral was charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree forgery. Reed was charged with illegal sale of marijuana, illegal possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, illegal possession of marijuana, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, operating a drug factory and possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree forgery.

Danbury resident Elaine Young, who was arrested in Danbury and charged with illegal sale of a narcotic and illegal possession of a narcotic, had her case continued until Nov. 22, 2002. Ryota Hirota of Fairfield's case was also continued. Hirota was charged with illegal sale of Ecstasy, illegal possession of Ecstasy, illegal sale of a hallucinogen, conspiracy to sell a hallucinogen, illegal possession of a hallucinogen, illegal sale of marijuana, illegal possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and illegal possession of marijuana. Hirota's case is continued until Nov. 8, 2002.

No public information was given concerning Aaron Baum of Bolton, Mass., charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All ten students, who were either 19 or 20 years old, were arrested on May 10, 2002. Three students were arrested in the Hilltop dormitories while the other seven arrests took place in North Campus, Towers, South, off-campus or out-of-town.

Dean of Students John Saddlemire did not comment on how the university has handled these students. Similar to the Rockville Court, Saddlemire said not all of the students have gone through the judicial process on campus yet.

"Drug sales on campus are a severe violation of the student code," Saddlemire said. "It was a great concern on campus and strong action will be taken for violating that code."

According to Saddlemire, the students were caught selling drugs to undercover police officers. Strong cases that were well investigated helped the issue to be handled quickly, Saddlemire said.