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Woman tells judge: First started doing drugs at 11 with her mom
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Heather Upole told a judge Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that she began using drugs at age 11 with her mother.
The 31-year-old mother of two, who was pleading guilty to a felony charge of possession of heroin and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs, also said she is looking forward to working for really the first time in her life when she finishes her drug-treatment program at the Community Corrections Association, where she was sentenced to complete within six months.
“That has to be a really good feeling to earn your own money,” Upole said.
Upole’s lawyer, Jamie Dunn, told the judge his client is so serious about getting help for her addiction that if CCA did not have an available bed for her she wanted to be sent to prison for six months because she knows she needs help.
There had been a question about Upole’s commitment before, but Upole said now she wants to get better and is ready to complete the program.
Judge D’Apolito, as he does when he presides over a hearing for someone on drug charges, asked Upole several questions, including how long she has been doing heroin and what her plans are for the rest of her life. And if she has any children. He seemed genuinely concerned when she told him she began taking drugs with her mother. Upole said her mother has been off drugs for a long time.
“She’s a completely different person now,” Upole said.
Judge D’Apolito said that may be true but a background like that is one of the reasons she ended up a drug addict.
“I find that a lot of this problem stems from your environment and your family,” Judge D’Apolito said.
Upole said her children, age 8 and 12, do very well in school.
“They are very smart,” Upole said.
She told the judge the father of the 8-year-old helps her, but the father of the 12-year-old is in prison and cannot provide any assistance. She also said she has no idea what kind of job she wants, but she wants to work.
Judge D’Apolito said she needs to think about what she wants to do, kick her addiction and then do it.
“Let’s get a goal and let’s see how we can get you there,” Judge D’Apolito said.
Judge D’Apolito did warn Upole that if she returns to using drugs, she will go to prison.
He said she is young enough to have a good life and she must be sober to care for her children.
“You’re still a baby,” Judge D’Apolito said.
“You’ve got children who didn’t ask for this, and when this all slows down, it’s just you and them.”