Drug court admits new participant, graduates 3

All local Drug and DUI Court participants had to pass a Breathalyzer test before entering the state District Court courtroom in the Hill County Courthouse Thursday afternoon. The participants, many upbeat and boisterous, filed into the seating area usually reserved for a jury, while the drug court panel quietly took their seats on the other side, where the defense and prosecution usually sit.

A new participant was introduced. Anthony Enemy Hunter, who had been transported from the Hill County Detention Center, stood before Justice of the Peace and Treatment Court Judge Audrey Barger.

According to District Court charging documents, Enemy Hunter admitted to stealing three television sets from El Toro Inn in January to have them pawned so he could get "a fix." He has been accepted into the drug court program and will have a chance to stay out of jail.

"Being truthful is the most important thing in this court. If you lie, I will know. If you run, I will turn over every rock and find you," Barger told Enemy Hunter, whose hands were shackled.

Barger laid down ground rules for Enemy Hunter to follow. Among them, he will not be allowed to go into smoker-friendly establishments, or onto the reservation. He must abide by the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. He must find a sponsor, and he must make an appointment at the Center for Mental Health.

"You have any questions for me," Barger asked.

Enemy Hunter lightly shook his head.

"You sure? You look a little stressed out," Barger said.

Enemy Hunter nodded again.

"How many days?" Barger asked, referring to the amount of time he had been sober.

"About three weeks," Enemy Hunter answered, barely audible.

"Next time you'll have an exact number. Great job," Barger said, smiling.

A Hill County deputy escorted Enemy Hunter out of the courtroom and back to the detention center.

One by one, the other drug court participants came to the center and stood in front of the judge. They discussed how things were going, Barger asked them what they needed, and before sitting down, everyone was always asked, "How many days?"

Lastly, it was graduation day for Wes Carlson, Adam Sessions and Corissa Lawrence.

Carlson was saluted for going through the entire program without one single sanction, uncommon among drug court participants.

Sessions was addressed by Hill County Sheriff's Deputy Ric Munfrada, the deputy who arrested him before being accepted into drug court. Barger asked the deputy to attend because of Sessions' graduation. Munfrada told Sessions he was sad when he arrested him because Sessions had a little girl who wouldn't have her father around.

"It's about your children and your family," Barger said, driving the point that addicts hurt everyone around them, not just themselves.

Barger turned to Lawrence and said she remembered her most because of the things she said. She recalled a time when she asked Lawrence why she was being untruthful.

"Because I'm an addict, and I lie. That's what we do," Lawrence had told Barger at the time.

The graduates then talked to the panel. Lawrence said she enjoyed getting to know them as people and not law enforcement.

Carlson told Misdemeanor Compliance Officer Shane Huston that he thought him a real jerk at first, but as time passed he realized Huston had the best intentions for him. He thanked Huston.

"At the beginning, I really fought the program," Sessions said

But, he said, he was glad he didn't win the battle. Now, he realizes how valuable it is.

The graduates received a certificate and a hug from Barger.

As for Enemy Hunter - the man who was told when court began that, if he ran, every rock would be turned over to find him - Barger's face lit up when she mentioned him after drug court was over.

"I think he's going to do really well. Really well," she said.

Drug and DUI courts, a nationwide initiative that started in Florida in 1989, are programs intended to reduce the backlog of drug-related court cases, recidivism and substance abuse among participants. Drug court is an alternative to prison for nonviolent offenders who are chemically dependent.

The program offers tailored help that addresses the source of the addiction and has the teeth of the judicial system ready to nip at the participants should they stop moving forward. Drug courts keep addicts in treatment for long periods of time, up to three years, and supervise them closely while they are in the program.

Drug court started in Hill County more than two years ago and, despite its success, the federal three-year grant will expire this October, so the program's future in Hill County is uncertain.

Barger said, between now and October she will turn over every rock in an effort to find a way to keep the program going.