Drug court worked for one
By Susan Nienow CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Reggie Bagby graduated from the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Adult Drug Court last August and now holds a steady job with a local construction company.

Reggie Bagby's grandmother died on the same day he was arrested for the last time. As Bagby's mother began making funeral arrangements, she hoped out loud that Reggie's grandmother hadn't heard of his latest arrest before she died. Hearing the disappointment in his mother's voice, Bagby felt like he had hit bottom.

For eight years, he had been in and out of jail and rehab and drug programs, but as soon as he was out, he'd return to his old life, going from alcohol and marijuana to cocaine, and for the last two years, heroin.

"That last time when I was arrested [for drug-related offenses], I had enough of myself," Reggie admitted. "Always before I had blamed everyone else."

He had gotten away with light sentences before, but this time, charged with three felonies and already on probation, he was denied bond and spent eight months in the Chesterfield County Jail. And once again, he underwent drug withdrawal in jail from heroin, "cold turkey."

"I lost complete focus on the dreams I had once had," said the high school graduate who had finished a year and a half of college before he went to work for DuPont. During that time, life was good for the father of two who was engaged to be married to his children's mother. After four years of benefits, good pay and a hopeful future, a fire at the plant resulted in layoffs.

Reggie doesn't know if being raised without his father contributed to the lack of self-esteem he felt after losing his job, but his life started to slide out of control and didn't stop until he was arrested the last time. "There weren't going to be any plea bargains [this time]," said Reggie.

He started praying to God for help - not to get out of his legal problems, but to "relieve [him] from this addiction" and to help him learn from his mistakes, finally.

In jail, Reggie changed his behavior for the first time in eight years. He started going to Bible study. He didn't care what other people thought; he was going to give God a chance.

When he appeared in court to answer the drug charges against him, his hearing began with "Judge Gill saying I should thank God for my attorney and the prosecutor." The judge had already figured out how much time to give him for each offense before he came into the courtroom. But the prosecutor recommended that Reggie go to Chesterfield/ Colonial Heights Adult Drug Court because a review of his prior convictions did not show violence or distribution charges.

"When the drug court finally accepted me, there was no way it was anything but God," Reggie declared.

Reggie accepted the conditions for the drug court program and got a job. In March 2004, he began paying child support for his two daughters. He got a driver's license - something he hadn't had in eight years. He lived a structured life, but he was sanctioned by the drug court twice. Once he was clean but late to the weekly check-in by one minute. That earned him a day in jail. The other time he had been out and had several beers. That landed him in jail for 30 days.

"This is stricter than any drug court in the state," said Reggie. "If you truly want to be clean and are seeking true help, this is the best program."

"I gave up the shame and [learned] to be honest with [my addiction], always. One lie turns into a thousand lies," said Reggie.

Reggie spent 29 months in the drug court program. He graduated last August.

Today, Reggie holds a steady job with a construction company, repairing roadways in Richmond. Soon, he'll start work with the city as a pipefitter since the city is negotiating with his employer to hire his entire work crew. That change will give him benefits and a retirement program.

He spends time with his two daughters regularly and has a good relationship with them and their mother.

He is clearly looking forward to the future. "My life is more normal today than it was before the drugs," he concluded.