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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 9, 1991                   TAG: 9104090626
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ARLINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

PUPIL, 12, ACCUSED OF DRUG SALES

Arlington police charged a 12-year-old boy with possessing cocaine and said the boy planned to sell the drug at school.

Police said the boy was arrested Friday after a school administrator found the boy carrying the drug at the playground of Swanson Middle School.

Arlington police Sgt. Mike Bolton said Monday the boy will be charged in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court with one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and another count of distributing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property.

"This is a serious offense and is being investigated seriously," Bolton said.

Police officials also said that it is extremely rare for drug distribution charges to be brought against someone so young. The boy's name was not released because of his age.

"Fifteen or sixteen is the age we usually start seeing" involvement with drugs by youth, said Lt. John Karinshak, who heads the department's Vice Control Unit.

If the charges are found to be true in Juvenile Court, the punishment can range from probation to confinement in a youth detention center.

School officials said the cocaine was discovered by an assistant principal.

by CNB