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January 22, 2003

Police arrest student for drug paraphernalia possession

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University police on Tuesday (1/21) arrested a student living in McCutcheon Hall for possessing smoking pipes that allegedly contained marijuana resin.

David Wayne Sexton was arrested at about 11:30 p.m. on charges of reckless possession of drug paraphernalia. Sexton, 19, of East Chicago, Ind., is a freshman in the School of Liberal Arts.

Police went to Sexton's residence hall room after receiving a tip regarding the smell of marijuana in the hall. Sexton acknowledged he had been smoking and gave officers permission to search his room, said Ron Fosnaugh, Purdue captain of special services. Police found two glass pipes that tested positive for marijuana residue, according to a police report.

Sexton told police someone said people could smell the marijuana smoke and that he should get rid of his supply. Fosnaugh said Sexton told police he then took three bags containing a total of approximately two and one-half ounces of marijuana to the intramural soccer field near his residence hall. Police searched the location where Sexton said he threw away the bags but did not find the marijuana.

Reckless possession of paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine. Sexton was taken to the Tippecanoe County Jail and released on his own recognizance early today (Wednesday, 1/22), Fosnaugh said.

Writer: Grant Flora, (765) 494-2073, gflora@purdue.edu

Source: Ron Fosnaugh, (765) 494-8221, rjfosnaugh@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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