State Aide Will Enter Drug Program
SACRAMENTO — State Justice Department official Brian Taugher, acquitted in January of child molestation, Friday won approval to participate in a drug counseling program in exchange for dismissal of a marijuana possession charge.
On the recommendation of the Sacramento County Probation Department, Municipal Judge William Ridgeway approved Taugher for the two-class course.
The counseling generally is offered to defendants who have no prior drug convictions and are found with small amounts of illegal substances.
Must Pay $150
Taugher said he will also be required to pay $50 for the Probation Department’s time and a $100 fee for the classes.
Sheriff’s investigators found less than an ounce of marijuana last July when they searched Taugher’s residence for evidence related to his child molestation trial. A Superior Court jury acquitted Taugher of molesting a 9-year-old girl at his daughter’s birthday slumber party.
Taugher, a legislative lobbyist for Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp, still faces possible disciplinary action from the Justice Department.
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