Post by Admin on Apr 12, 2004 9:54:17 GMT -5
Running on the front page in the April 8, 2004 issue of the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus:
Norwich student pleads innocent to drug charges
By Peter Hirschfeld
BARRE - A Norwich University hockey player who allegedly supplied the Northfield area with the mood-altering drug ecstasy was arraigned Wednesday on charges that could send him to prison for more than 20 years.
Norwich senior Robert Jaggard, 24, of Northfield pleaded not guilty to charges of selling the drug ecstasy, possession of ecstasy, conspiracy to sell ecstasy and possession of marijuana. At press time Wednesday night, he was being held at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury for lack of $10,000 bail.
The arraignment came just hours after Northfield police found 34 grams of ecstasy and 34 grams of marijuana inside a safe in Jaggard's Crescent Avenue apartment. Police also found $1,750 in cash in a bedside drawer.
"He's the guy that was selling to the sellers," Washington County State's Attorney Terry Trono said. "He's the main guy, the guy this investigation led to."
Jaggard, a Canadian native, admitted to bringing the drug from Canada to the United States, according to a police affidavit. In the affidavit, police said Jaggard admitted to selling hundreds of ecstasy pills to several people in Northfield.
Confidential informants recruited by the Northfield Police Department led authorities to Jaggard.
The arrest marks the third high-profile investigation into illegal activity by Norwich students in less than a year. In November and December, three former Norwich football players pleaded guilty to misdemeanor steroid charges. During that same time, a former Norwich cadet was sentenced to two years of probation for supplying alcohol to a Norwich minor, who fell to his death from a dorm room window.
Norwich University has a zero-tolerance drug policy for all students, with sanctions that include dismissal from the university. Prosecuting attorney Tom Kelley said that a representative from Norwich told him that expulsion procedures were under way for Jaggard, who is three weeks away from graduating with a grade point average above 3.0.
The university released a written statement acknowledging that charges had been filed against Jaggard and said that it has cooperated fully with the police investigation. University officials declined further comment.
The arrest followed a two-month investigation in which police used informants wearing recording devices to collect evidence against Jaggard. Jaggard sold more than 20 grams to one such informant, a transaction that resulted in the execution of a search warrant Wednesday morning.
Jaggard gave the pills to local dealers, who paid him when they sold the drugs, police said.
State prosecutors said they don't know how the drugs filtered through Northfield.
"We don't know where it winds up," Trono said.
Jaggard's arrest comes on the heels of the Norwich hockey team's second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III final four. During the 2004 season, Jaggard had three goals and five assists as a forward on the fourth line and played on the 2003 NCAA Division III championship team.
Norwich coach Mike McShane said Jaggard's actions were not representative of the team.
"It's an isolated incident as far as I know," McShane said.
The charges will not affect the university's NCAA eligibility, according to Frank Uryasz, founder of Center for Drug-Free Sport, the organization used by the NCAA to test student athletes for banned drugs.
Ecstasy is the street name for the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, a synthetic drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline.
MDMA affects users by manipulating the brain's serotonin system, which plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep and sensitivity to pain.
Contact Peter Hirschfeld at peter.hirschfeld@timesargus.com or 479-0191, ext. 1163.
Norwich student pleads innocent to drug charges
By Peter Hirschfeld
BARRE - A Norwich University hockey player who allegedly supplied the Northfield area with the mood-altering drug ecstasy was arraigned Wednesday on charges that could send him to prison for more than 20 years.
Norwich senior Robert Jaggard, 24, of Northfield pleaded not guilty to charges of selling the drug ecstasy, possession of ecstasy, conspiracy to sell ecstasy and possession of marijuana. At press time Wednesday night, he was being held at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury for lack of $10,000 bail.
The arraignment came just hours after Northfield police found 34 grams of ecstasy and 34 grams of marijuana inside a safe in Jaggard's Crescent Avenue apartment. Police also found $1,750 in cash in a bedside drawer.
"He's the guy that was selling to the sellers," Washington County State's Attorney Terry Trono said. "He's the main guy, the guy this investigation led to."
Jaggard, a Canadian native, admitted to bringing the drug from Canada to the United States, according to a police affidavit. In the affidavit, police said Jaggard admitted to selling hundreds of ecstasy pills to several people in Northfield.
Confidential informants recruited by the Northfield Police Department led authorities to Jaggard.
The arrest marks the third high-profile investigation into illegal activity by Norwich students in less than a year. In November and December, three former Norwich football players pleaded guilty to misdemeanor steroid charges. During that same time, a former Norwich cadet was sentenced to two years of probation for supplying alcohol to a Norwich minor, who fell to his death from a dorm room window.
Norwich University has a zero-tolerance drug policy for all students, with sanctions that include dismissal from the university. Prosecuting attorney Tom Kelley said that a representative from Norwich told him that expulsion procedures were under way for Jaggard, who is three weeks away from graduating with a grade point average above 3.0.
The university released a written statement acknowledging that charges had been filed against Jaggard and said that it has cooperated fully with the police investigation. University officials declined further comment.
The arrest followed a two-month investigation in which police used informants wearing recording devices to collect evidence against Jaggard. Jaggard sold more than 20 grams to one such informant, a transaction that resulted in the execution of a search warrant Wednesday morning.
Jaggard gave the pills to local dealers, who paid him when they sold the drugs, police said.
State prosecutors said they don't know how the drugs filtered through Northfield.
"We don't know where it winds up," Trono said.
Jaggard's arrest comes on the heels of the Norwich hockey team's second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III final four. During the 2004 season, Jaggard had three goals and five assists as a forward on the fourth line and played on the 2003 NCAA Division III championship team.
Norwich coach Mike McShane said Jaggard's actions were not representative of the team.
"It's an isolated incident as far as I know," McShane said.
The charges will not affect the university's NCAA eligibility, according to Frank Uryasz, founder of Center for Drug-Free Sport, the organization used by the NCAA to test student athletes for banned drugs.
Ecstasy is the street name for the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, a synthetic drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline.
MDMA affects users by manipulating the brain's serotonin system, which plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep and sensitivity to pain.
Contact Peter Hirschfeld at peter.hirschfeld@timesargus.com or 479-0191, ext. 1163.
