Drug offender’s relapse in treatment program could mean five years in prison
NORWICH – An Oxford woman who was allowed in a treatment program instead of state prison tested positive for cocaine use and now faces several years behind bars.
On Monday, 40-year-old Kara L. Conklin, who is incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility, appeared before Judge W. Howard Sullivan and was granted an extension in the case because her public defender, Alan Gordon, was unavailable.
Conklin pleaded guilty to third degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 15 and was granted judicial diversion by Sullivan, which offered her a chance to participate in Chenango County Treatment Court for one year. If she completed the program successfully, the charge against her would’ve been reduced.
Treatment Court is an intensive 12-month drug and alcohol rehabilitation program requiring regular meetings, random drug testing and strict monitoring. Participants typically avoid sentences that would have placed them behind bars and violators are often incarcerated.
Treatment officials said Conklin tested positive for cocaine use Feb. 15 and expelled her from the program. By violating the terms of her plea agreement, she now faces five years in state prison and three years of post release supervision for her original crime, explained First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee.
Assistant Public Defender John D. Cameron, who handled the office’s other cases during Monday’s court session, said Conklin preferred to finalize the details of her sentence with Gordon, who has represented her throughout the case.
“My client was surprised at this proposed disposition, your honor. I believe she wants the opportunity to reconsidered her options and talk to Mr. Gordon. Our client can see the writing on wall and that there will be an amount of time spent in prison,” he said.
Cameron asked for Conklin to be temporarily released so she could get her affairs in order. Sullivan denied the request.
Conklin’s co-conspirator in the case, 43-year-old John Serrano, previously pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to one and a half years in state prison with three years post-release supervision in a deal with the DA’s Office.
The two were arrested May 20, 2010 following a joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Oxford Police Department.
After obtaining a warrant, police searched their home on Greene Street in the village and removed a number of Percocet pills, a prescribed narcotic, along with cocaine and marijuana. Police said the couple had been selling drugs from their home for six months.
On Monday, 40-year-old Kara L. Conklin, who is incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility, appeared before Judge W. Howard Sullivan and was granted an extension in the case because her public defender, Alan Gordon, was unavailable.
Conklin pleaded guilty to third degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 15 and was granted judicial diversion by Sullivan, which offered her a chance to participate in Chenango County Treatment Court for one year. If she completed the program successfully, the charge against her would’ve been reduced.
Treatment Court is an intensive 12-month drug and alcohol rehabilitation program requiring regular meetings, random drug testing and strict monitoring. Participants typically avoid sentences that would have placed them behind bars and violators are often incarcerated.
Treatment officials said Conklin tested positive for cocaine use Feb. 15 and expelled her from the program. By violating the terms of her plea agreement, she now faces five years in state prison and three years of post release supervision for her original crime, explained First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee.
Assistant Public Defender John D. Cameron, who handled the office’s other cases during Monday’s court session, said Conklin preferred to finalize the details of her sentence with Gordon, who has represented her throughout the case.
“My client was surprised at this proposed disposition, your honor. I believe she wants the opportunity to reconsidered her options and talk to Mr. Gordon. Our client can see the writing on wall and that there will be an amount of time spent in prison,” he said.
Cameron asked for Conklin to be temporarily released so she could get her affairs in order. Sullivan denied the request.
Conklin’s co-conspirator in the case, 43-year-old John Serrano, previously pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to one and a half years in state prison with three years post-release supervision in a deal with the DA’s Office.
The two were arrested May 20, 2010 following a joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Oxford Police Department.
After obtaining a warrant, police searched their home on Greene Street in the village and removed a number of Percocet pills, a prescribed narcotic, along with cocaine and marijuana. Police said the couple had been selling drugs from their home for six months.
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