Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991                   TAG: 9103010430
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EX-ROANOKE COACH DROPS DEFENSE ON POT CHARGES

David Gary Nelson, who recently resigned from his teaching and coaching job at Patrick Henry High School, was scheduled Thursday to appeal his convictions of possessing marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Instead, Nelson entered no contest pleas in Roanoke Circuit Court and was convicted by Judge Roy Willett. Nelson is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

Nelson, 41, maintained in hearings last year that he purchased a small amount of marijuana only after he was led astray by what he called a streetwise and manipulative 16-year-old student.

In separate hearings, judges in Juvenile and General District courts convicted Nelson and set his punishment at 30 days on each charge. But because Nelson appealed to Circuit Court, he will be sentenced again.

Nelson, who has been described as a role model and an outstanding teacher, testified earlier that he often warned his students about the danger of drugs.

Regional drug prosecutor Jeff Rudd provided the following summary of the evidence:

Nelson asked the 16-year-old last fall to purchase some marijuana for him, and gave the student $40. But after spending the money, the youth became nervous and eventually went to police.

Vice detectives then arranged a controlled purchase in Jackson Park, where Nelson was videotaped buying the drugs from the youth. He was arrested minutes later.

Nelson was suspended from his job shortly after he was charged last Oct. 2. He recently resigned to take another position, defense attorney Harvey Lutins said.