Keep your kid away from Meth users

[pwd72s]

Don't allow them to go on school field trips to the Oregon state Legislature. Here's a cut & paste of the story...

Lawmaker faces arrest in Salem on meth charge
Drugs
Thursday, October 13, 2005
JANIE HAR
SALEM -- Salem police said Wednesday they intend to arrest Rep. Kelley Wirth, D-Corvallis, on one count of possession of methamphetamine.

The drug was found in Wirth's car when she was struck by another car last month outside the state Capitol. The driver of that car, Lisa Temple, has been charged with attempted murder and assault. Temple is the girlfriend of a Capitol building janitor who claims to have had a sexual relationship with Wirth. She has denied the relationship.

Lt. Bill Kohlmeyer, spokesman for the Salem Police Department, said investigators are trying to contact Wirth. No arrest warrant has been issued for the three-term lawmaker, he said.

"Our normal procedure is we contact somebody, we make the arrest and fill out the paperwork with the DA's office," Kohlmeyer said. "We were hoping she would just come in and meet with us, but that's not happening."

Wirth did not return several pages or phone messages Tuesday and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

An e-mail to Wirth requesting comment was returned Wednesday morning with the response "will comment soon," but no statement was released.

Jane Aiken of Salem, an attorney who has represented Wirth, could not be reached for comment.

Kohlmeyer said he did not know how much meth was found in Wirth's car but it was an amount small enough to be considered personal use under the law.

Wirth was getting into her car when she was struck. Part of the investigation into the incident involved searching Wirth's car, Kohlmeyer said.

He said police are not considering arresting Temple or her boyfriend Fernando Mendez in connection with the meth.

Brad Berry, Yamhill County district attorney, said a user amount is typically less than a gram but could be more.

Possession of meth is a class C felony, and punishable by as long as five years in prison. But Courtland Geyer, deputy district attorney in Marion County, said that, in general, an arrest on simple possession of drugs "can and, often does, result in probation."

Janie Har: 503-221-8213; janiehar@news.oregonian.com