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Lassiter's son was convicted on a felony charge of selling and delivering marijuana and was in prison from April to September of 2000. Wake and Chatham county court records show that he was charged with breaking the law more than 30 times in the past decade. The charges include speeding, driving while intoxicated, selling marijuana and resisting arrest. Most of the charges were dismissed or withdrawn by prosecutors, records show.

Memo tells Black side

Black's spokeswoman, Julie Robinson, sent a four-page memo Thursday night to House members that detailed Black's version of what occurred, in anticipation of The N&O's report.

In late 2004, Robinson wrote, "it was brought to Speaker Black's attention that an individual with a prior criminal record was on the approved host family list. Regretfully, that individual was also the son of then-House Page Coordinator Ann Lassiter, who took full responsibility for her inappropriate decision and apologized."

She wrote that as soon as Black learned of the problem, "he made sure that this person was removed from the host family list."

There are no details about who stayed with Lassiter's son. Two pages who served at that time said in interviews Friday that they did not recall him.

Robinson said changes were made. She said in-home visits are now made; criminal background checks are conducted; host families agree in writing to provide care; and feedback is solicited.

"Furthermore, there are no host families that house both boys and girls," she wrote.

Robinson did not say in the memo to legislators that the speaker had later created a new job for Lassiter.

Lassiter apologizes

Lassiter has said she realized after three months of arranging for pages to stay with her son that it was a mistake -- and she says she ended it.

In May, June and July of 2003, one to three pages per week stayed with her son, then 24, who provided lodging, transportation and meals. Host families are paid $100 week per page.

Legislative officials have said there was only one complaint lodged against Lassiter's son, Stephen Patrick Lassiter -- that some pages were not provided breakfast as expected.

On Friday, Lassiter sent an apology by e-mail to legislative employees.

"I made a gross error in judgment," she wrote. "There was no excuse that I made a very poor decision. ... I made the mistake, I own it, and I would like to express my sincere apologies for this matter. Bringing shame on my family and the [General Assembly] is unacceptable behavior."

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