CASE DELAYED AFTER WOMAN REFUTES GUILT IN DRUG CASE

CANTON - A Gouverneur woman's plea agreement was put on hold Monday
because she continued to profess her innocence after pleading guilty
in St Lawrence County Court to possessing prescription narcotics with
the intent to sell.

"I'm prepared to vacate the plea and start from there," County Judge
Jerome J. Richards said after reviewing a presentence report on an
interview of Joan A. Kingdon, 50, by county's probation department.

Mrs. Kingdon, former office manager for Dr. Gail E. DeHart,
Gouverneur, pleaded guilty Nov.22 to fifth-degree criminal possession
of a controlled substance. She admitted possessing 250 Vicoprofen
narcotic tablets with the intent to sell on May 14, 2004.

Mrs. Kingdon's plea agreement called for her to be sentenced to five
years' probation. Judge Richards postponed sentencing until Feb. 21
after learning she has since denied engaging in any criminal
activities or selling drugs and doubts that Dr. DeHart, who pleaded
guilty in December to attempted criminal sale of a prescription for a
narcotic, did anything wrong.

"She admitted the crime and now tells the Probation Department she
didn't do anything. It doesn't work that way," Judge Richards said.
"No one is trying to force her to plead guilty. If she didn't do
anything, she shouldn't plead guilty." He ordered Mrs. Kingdon to
submit to another probation interview and said he would take part in
the interview if necessary.