Published: August 20, 2008 11:01 pm            

Mossholder first to complete drug court program

Arrested in August 2006 on multiple charges, including dealing in cocaine, Rosie Mossholder was looking at serious prison time.

That was until she was accepted into the Howard County Adult Court.

Now, after 16 months of rehabilitation, the once-addicted Mossholder, 39, says she is living a drug-free, productive life.

“It’s overwhelming,” Mossholder said Wednesday after graduating from the drug court program. “It’s awesome the way Judge [William] Menges and everybody set up the drug court like this. It shows they really care about the community.”

Mossholder was the first offender to graduate from the recently enacted drug court, which focuses on addicts, not first-time offenders.

The concept involves a team of a trained judicial and treatment workers who assess potential offenders to be placed into the program.

The Howard County Council granted Menges funding for an administrator and coordinator for the court last year, which is required by the state.

Howard County Prosecutor James Fleming said without the program, Mossholder could have been looking at between eight and 20 years on the B felony alone.

“We saved a person from the prison system,” he said after officially filing a motion to dismiss her case.

Menges, judge of Howard Superior Court 1, granted the motion and presented Mossholder with a certificate of completion in front of a crowd of city and county officials and other community members who helped launch the drug court.

“This is what we expected and hoped for in the drug court,” Menges said. “She is a productive member of society. She’s also a spokesperson for the Gilead House. She has gave back to the community in so many ways.”

After presenting Rosie with her certificate, Menges thanked all the people who work hard to make the drug court possible, including members of St. Joseph Hospital and Howard Regional Health System, Reba Harris of the Gilead House, police officers, jail officials and county council members.

If successful, the drug court saves taxpayers’ money by not having to incarcerate offenders for long terms, said Menges.

“The county council saved $65,000 with Rosie’s incarceration expenses. With 15 others in the program, it will save jail space and taxpayers’ money.”

Menges hopes the offenders in the program have the success Rosie has had.

“We try to get people do to the right thing.”

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com

        

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