Teen gets probation on Main Line drug-ring charge

The Radnor teenager stood in Montgomery County Juvenile Court and told the judge how getting arrested on charges related to a Main Line drug ring had completely changed his view of marijuana.

"Before," he told Senior Judge William T. Nicholas, "I didn't think it was much of a deal."

He said he no longer thinks that.

On Friday, Nicholas placed him on probation and ordered him to complete 50 hours of community service, stay away from drugs, undergo random drug testing, and testify against codefendants if needed.

Nicholas also told authorities to remove the ankle bracelet the teen had worn since April 28.

On April 21, the District Attorney's Office and other local law enforcement agencies announced that they had busted a drug ring whose organizers wanted to corner the marijuana market among high school and college students in Main Line communities and the region. They arrested 11 people, two of them juveniles.

A week after the arrests were announced, the Radnor teen admitted - the Juvenile Court term for pleading guilty - to one count of criminal conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and one of possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Both are felonies.

Now 18 - a 17-year-old Radnor High School senior at the time of his arrest - he has worn an ankle bracelet since then, completing his schoolwork at home. He plans to attend Villanova University when the school year begins this month.

Before the judge gave his order, attorney Michael J. Malloy said his client had sold the marijuana he got from one of the drug ring's alleged organizers only to friends, never trying to build a wider customer base.

Also this week, four adult defendants pleaded guilty in County Court to charges associated with the drug ring.