Bush goes to jail

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 17) - Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter was sentenced to 10 days
in jail and led away in handcuffs Thursday after being accused of having
crack cocaine in her shoe while in drug rehab.

Noelle Bush, 25, kissed her aunt Dorothy Koch as a sheriff's deputy cuffed
her behind the back. Koch is the sister of President Bush and the governor,
who was not in court.

In a statement, the governor said he realizes that his daughter must face
the consequences of her actions.

``Every parent of a child with an addiction understands that the long road
to recovery is never easy and that there are numerous challenges along the
way,'' he said. ``This is a very difficult time for all of us … and I pray
every day our beautiful daughter will once again know a life free from the
horrors of substance abuse.''

Orange County Jail spokesman Allen Moore said Bush will be kept in
protective custody away from other inmates, under 24-hour surveillance.

Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead did not specify a reason for jailing Bush
but told her he was aware of allegations she was found with crack. After she
gets out of jail, she will go back to the drug treatment center.

Before being sentenced, she told the judge: ``I sincerely apologize for what
happened and promise to do well at the Center for Drug-Free Living.''

The president's niece has been undergoing drug treatment in Orlando since
February, after she accused of trying to use a forged prescription to buy
the anti-anxiety drug Xanax at a pharmacy drive-through window.

In July, she went to jail for two days after she was caught with
prescription pills at the rehab center.

Last month, police were called to the center after another patient reported
that Bush had crack. But no charges were ever filed. Staff members refused
to cooperate with police, citing federal privacy regulations, and a judge
upheld the rehab center's position.

On Thursday, Whitehead told Bush that she could have faced felony drug
charges if he had not decided to give her another chance.

``I want you to have some time to think and reflect on this,'' Whitehead
said. ``You should be disappointed that you let yourself down.''

10/17/02 14:28 EDT

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.