87-YEAR-OLD ADMITS DRUG TRAFFICKING

E. Kentucky Woman Agrees To Plea Deal

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- An 87-year-old woman charged with dealing drugs
would be sentenced to five years in prison under a plea agreement she
accepted. The woman, Dottie Neeley, of Hueysville, pleaded guilty
Thursday in Floyd Circuit Court to three counts of drug
trafficking.

Neeley admitted to Judge John D. Caudill that she had sold
hydrocodone to an undercover agent for the Operation UNITE drug task
force. The task force has been cracking down on a crime authorities
say is rampant in Appalachia. Neeley also admitted selling methadone
and marijuana. Special prosecutor David Jorjani from the state
attorney general's office worked out the plea agreement, which calls
for Neeley to serve five years in prison, followed by five years of
probation.

However, Jorjani also agreed that his office would not oppose shock
probation for Neeley because of her age and poor health. Under shock
probation, a defendant who is unlikely to repeat a crime is released
after getting a brief taste of life behind bars. The judge did not
indicate how he might rule on shock probation, which cannot be
requested until Neeley has served at least 30 days. She will be
sentenced March 10.

Elderly inmates Since April 2004, Operation UNITE has charged more
than 40 people 60 or older with selling drugs, primarily prescription
medicine. Because of the trend, local jails are having to bear the
expense of caring for older inmates, who are often sickly.

"You've got to give them more attention," said Floyd County Jailer
Roger Webb. "It's putting a strain on my deputies. We're understaffed
anyway. You've got to get them doctors and meet their medical needs."
The Rev. Doug Abner, pastor of Community Church in Manchester and an
anti-drug activist, said senior citizens may not understand the
seriousness of selling prescription drugs. He said they often sell
portions of their prescriptions to supplement their incomes,
especially if they live on meager fixed incomes.