Black admits alcoholism

Former speaker seeks treatment while serving prison time

RALEIGH -- Jim Black, who could be days from starting a prison sentence for public corruption, says he needs treatment for alcoholism.

The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, once among the most powerful people in North Carolina, asked Thursday that a federal judge recommend him for alcohol treatment while in prison.

Black, 72, made the request through his attorneys in a one-paragraph court filing. He also asked that he be allowed to stay in North Carolina, serving his term at a minimum-security facility in Butner, about 35 miles north of Raleigh.

The request for alcohol treatment could signal a precipitous decline for the veteran Democrat who often publicly prided himself on strong personal habits. He bragged, for example, that he could outwork anyone. It could also shave up to a year off his prison term of five years and three months if he completes the treatment.

With another possible nine months off for good behavior, Black's prison term could eventually be reduced to 3 1/2 years.

Black, a Matthews optometrist, was sentenced this month for taking thousands in cash payments from chiropractors interested in legislation before the General Assembly. He served a record-tying eight years as House speaker, resigning his House seat in February a day before pleading guilty.

A sign of possible problems with alcohol appeared in June, when a new agreement with a probation officer required Black to refrain completely from drinking alcohol. He was previously required to avoid only excessive use.

Before then, there were no public indications that Black had a problem with alcohol. In October, during the fraud trial of former N.C. lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings, Black volunteered under oath how little he drinks.

"I only have two drinks ever," Black testified.

Prosecutors were questioning him about a dinner meeting at which he drank two vodka tonics mixed with Grey Goose, which he said was his favorite brand.

Another House member or someone else would often chauffeur Black when, as speaker, he had frequent dinner meetings at Raleigh restaurants.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons offers several levels of drug and alcohol treatment, including residential programs, according to its manual on programs for inmate drug abuse. The levels vary in intensity and offer different types of counseling.

Black's attorneys did not indicate which program they thought would be appropriate. Lead attorney Ken Bell of Charlotte did not respond to a request for comment.

Inmates must qualify for the programs and cannot participate only to reduce their sentences, said Dan Boyce, a Raleigh lawyer and former federal prosecutor.

"The appropriate professionals have to determine that the defendant has issues," Boyce said. "If someone went in lying, he wouldn't qualify."

The prison complex at Butner is one of the closest federal minimum-security prisons to the Charlotte area. Another state politician recently convicted of corruption, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance of Warren County, is serving a four-year term there, though in a different part of the complex than Black has requested.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons will make the final decision on where Black will serve. He could report as soon as July 30, though he has asked for a delay to be sure the crowded federal prison system will have space available at his preferred prison.

He is due to be sentenced July 31 on state corruption charges.