THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Saturday, May 27, 1995 TAG: 9505270442 SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
A Craven County commissioner was found guilty Friday of conspiracy and one other drug charge today by a U.S. District Court jury.
The jury returned the verdicts at about 12:30 p.m. after deliberating more than five hours over two days.
Gerald Parker, 33, a commissioner since December, was found innocent of maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance in August 1993.
The convictions - conspiring to arrange drug buys and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance in the fall of 1993 - should unseat Parker under a state law that prohibits a felon from holding office.
Parker is likely to spend time behind bars, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McCullough, who prosecuted the case.
Judge Terrence Boyle allowed Parker to remain free until sentencing. A date for sentencing was not set.
Parker did not react when the verdict was read.
Supporters of Parker who had prayed in the courthouse while the jury deliberated said Parker would be missed in Craven County politics.
``You'll lose good representation,'' said Johnnie Sampson of New Bern. ``He has represented the community well since the time he was elected a commissioner. He has done more than any other commissioner.''
Parker was sworn in Dec. 5 as a commissioner from one of the county's two minority districts. Four days later, on his 33rd birthday, he turned himself in to New Bern police and was charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and aiding and abetting.
The possession charge was dropped during the trial because of inaccuracies in the indictment.
Parker's attorney, Earl Whitted Jr. of Goldsboro, called the conviction ``a classic example of a person trying to help somebody and then them dragging him into it.''
Whitted said he plans to appeal the verdict within 10 days. The appeal will go to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. by CNB