Maine hockey player charged with marijuana trafficking

June 18, 2002


ORONO, Maine (AP) -- A University of Maine hockey player has been
charged with marijuana trafficking and kicked off the team, the school
said Tuesday.

Paul Falco, 21, of Weymouth, Mass., sold an eighth of an ounce of
marijuana to an undercover officer, according to police.

He was served a summons on the drug charge last Wednesday at his
Massachusetts home, said Noel March, chief of the University of Maine
Department of Public Safety.

Coach Tim Whitehead dismissed Falco from the hockey team after the
charge was brought.

``I was very surprised and disappointed to learn of the charges against
Paul,'' Whitehead said. ``I want to emphatically state that there is no
room in our program for the type of activity of which he is accused.''

In May, Falco pleaded guilty and paid a fine for disorderly conduct in
a harassment case involving a female student, March said.

Falco appeared in 27 games as a freshman in the 2001-02 season,
finishing with four goals and seven assists.

He is scheduled to appear in Bangor District Court on July 19.


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com