“I never suspected. Straight A student, no problems in school,” Amanda Asher said. “I would say he was hanging with the wrong crowds at the wrong time. That was a total shock to me.”

Wrong crowds. Wrong time. Regardless of the signs, however subtle or obvious, not many parents would notice until it’s too late, officials say. In Asher’s case, it nearly was too late.

“I didn’t understand that night,” Asher said. “I asked him and I still haven’t gotten an answer.”

The answers Asher sought were surrounding the night her son, 15-year-old Christian Asher, was arrested, a breaking and entering charge against him. Investigators dug a little deeper and found there were drugs involved.

The Asher household isn’t what would be considered a statistic for trouble. A two-parent home, the Ashers watch their children, providing love and appropriate discipline to their three.

But trouble still reached inside the Orangeburg home, proving anyone is susceptible.

Rather than the Orangeburg youth being sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice, Christian was approved to apply for the juvenile drug court program with the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

“This is a perfect case of how drugs is a systemic problem and how they’re at the root of the problem,” Solicitor David Pascoe said. “From my experience, most bank robberies, home invasions are drug-related.”

Those accepted into the program are required to return to court, where they receive counseling from community leaders and other role models.

The candidates also attend mandatory counseling at the William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility.

Christian said he’s not proud of what occurred, but he was determined to make it right. He applied and, along with his mom, successfully completed the program that will allow him to ask a judge to dismiss the charges.

“When you go to the McCord Center, they teach you priorities and what drugs can do to you,” Christian said. “And they teach you how to say ‘no.’”

Not all juveniles will qualify for the 2-1/2-year-old alternative program. Those committing a serious offense will still face a judge, possibly being charged as an adult.

However, for non-violent and non-repeating offenses, such as Christian’s case, juveniles ages 11 to 17 can apply for the program. Not all are accepted into the 10 or more available slots. Pascoe makes the decision to accept or reject.

The drug court program is as much about the potential candidate as it is the parents.

Amanda Asher said the alternative program isn’t a cake walk. Parents have to attend classes as well, which focus on potential signs of trouble. Working a swing shift, it wasn’t an easy task, she said.

“I mean, I had to get off work. They made it seem like I was the victim,” she said. “I didn’t like it, but I did it because I had to help my son. It was a good experience.”

With the completion of the course, the charges can be dismissed. Christian will be able to request his record be completely cleared after his 18th birthday, which can reopen the door for college scholarships.

“That’s huge for some of our graduates,” said presiding Judge Anne Gue-Jones. “One of our kids who graduated wanted to play football in college.”

Since, he’s changed those friends he says were a bad influence. He’s made new friends, friends that won’t get him into trouble.

Meantime, Christian said he’s decided to follow in his older sister’s footsteps and join the U.S. Army after school. From there, he plans on utilizing the G.I. Bill to attain a college education.

Pascoe said the success rate of the alternative program exceeds that of DJJ, where the rate for repeat offenders “is horrific.”

The solicitor does say the program is the collective effort of not only his staff members but Judge Gue-Jones and Kim Peakes of the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice.

“Look what the program’s done,” Pascoe said. “It’s given Christian a plan for the future, plans that include serving his country and getting a college education.”

Asked if he were approached today to try drugs, the 15-year-old Honor Roll student said, “I would tell you you’re crazy.”

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.

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