Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson gave a man a possible suspended five-year prison sentence if he completes a six-month-long drug rehab.
Delays prison sentence in lieu of successful rehab stint
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson has estimated that 98 percent of all crime he deals with in his courtroom is related to drug or alcohol abuse in some way. The best way to combat recurring offenders is to get them off the drugs and alcohol that clouds their judgment.
On Tuesday, Judge Peterson sentenced a teenaged repeat offender to 180 days in jail and three years on probation for possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear in court for sentencing. However, he also sentenced the offender, Dominik Olivero, 19, to a six-month rehabilitation program and greatly encouraged him to be successful. Judge Peterson gave Olivero a great incentive to be successful with his rehab by delaying a five-year prison sentence for two counts of possession of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine). If Olivero completes rehab, the prison sentence will be suspended but if he fails he will have to serve the five years in prison.
“I want you to be successful,” Judge Peterson said during sentencing. “There is a significant benefit to you if you are successful. There is a significant consequence if you are not. So, you need to understand that.”
Peterson, who also formed the adult drug court, (see: Gila Herald – Adult drug court: Making a difference on addiction at a time – Sept. 9, 2019) said this type of incentive is a common sentence for him and that he has had good results.
Olivero was originally arrested with a meth pipe Feb. 23; he was arrested with meth July 4; missed his sentencing on the paraphernalia charge Aug. 13, and was arrested for meth again Sept. 25. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear in court, and two separate counts of possession of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine).
The road ahead will be a tough one. Unlike opiate addiction which has a number of government programs and has medically assisted treatment options, fewer rehab locations are available for meth addicts and there is currently no government-accepted medical treatment option. And with the proliferation of meth from Mexico super labs, the potency has increased which makes it that much harder for addicts to break the cycle of abuse.
Olivero was given 99 days credit for time served and will be allowed to leave jail once he is accepted into a rehab program or after he serves the entire 180-day sentence.
Judge Peterson encouraged Olivero to be a good example and call in from rehab for a March 3 review hearing.
“I have people call in at 9:30 (a.m.) with a specific intent to be a good example as they move forward with their progress and treatment,” Judge Peterson said. “I always will have people here in custody with substance abuse and I want them to know that you’re being successful. It’s difficult to create a culture of success . . . In your young life, you have made several missteps but mistakes do not define you. I hope you will decide to rise above this conduct and make some improvements to move forward.”
