ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996            TAG: 9610300043
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: FINCASTLE
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM

GOLFER, EX-TEACHER PLEADS NO CONTEST TO COCAINE CHARGE

Golf standout Penny Stallins of Salem pleaded no contest Tuesday in Botetourt County Circuit Court to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. A misdemeanor marijuana charge was dropped.

Stallins, who faces up to 40 years in prison, is to be sentenced Dec. 12. She is scheduled for trial Thursday in Salem for possession of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines.

The former champion golfer and gym teacher was caught in a sting operation this summer in the parking lot of a Botetourt County Food Lion, Botetourt Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said. An informant took cocaine provided by the investigators and sold it to Stallins, he said.

The investigators picked up Stallins immediately, and she agreed to a search of her Salem home.

That search led to her indictment in Salem in late July.

LENGTH: Short :   27 lines