Richard Harrison, Ohio University's assistant dean for student affairs development, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine yesterday at his pre-trial, but will receive intervention instead of a conviction.
Harrison, 43, will be placed in a three-year rehabilitation program, and the judge will not accept his guilty plea unless he fails the program, said Athens County Prosector C. David Warren.
The rehabilitation program is not unusual, and intervention instead of conviction is given about once a month, he said.
It's for people with drug dependency or in danger of dependency and who have a low-grade possession crime
Warren said.
Harrison was arrested on September 20, 2003, outside The Crystal, 34 N. Court St., on a charge of disorderly conduct. When he was taken to jail and searched, police officers found what appeared to be a bag of cocaine in his right shoe, according to a September 23, 2003, Post article.
Harrison, who makes a yearly salary of $65,251, serves as adviser to the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in addition to his position.
The university was aware of today's court proceedings but is awaiting the final decision before making a determination about Harrison's employment, said OU spokesman Jack Jeffery.
The decision will be made in the foreseeable future he said.
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