U.S. student jailed on drug charges

John Tobin: "I don't have anything to do with drugs"

VORONEZH, Russia (CNN) -- An American Fulbright scholar has been sentenced to more than three years in a Russian prison on drug charges.

John Tobin, 24, denied charges that he obtained, possessed and distributed drugs, saying he had no use for drugs.

Prosecutors had dropped a more serious charge, which held a 15-year sentence, for lack of evidence.

Before the verdict was read out, Tobin delivered his final statement to the court from the metal cage where defendants are confined during Russian trials.

"I consider myself not guilty. I am a student. I came here to study," he said in Russian.

"I don't have anything to do with drugs," he said. "I ask you to decide my case fairly. I never offered or sold anyone drugs."

The Russian security service had accused him of ties with U.S. intelligence -- but he was not charged with spying.

Tobin was detained on January 26 as he left a nightclub in the central Russian city of Voronezh. Police say he was carrying a matchbox containing marijuana and more of the drug was uncovered during a search of his apartment.

He was formally arrested on February 1 and has been held in jail since.

Tobin, a graduate of Middlebury College, studied at a U.S. military school and at the Defense Language Institute in California. He was studying political science at Voronezh State University.

U.S. student on Russia drugs charge
April 25, 2001

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