STEP-DAD CHANGES PLEA

THE STEP-FATHER OF A TEENAGER KILLED BY A DRUG OVERDOSE IN A NORTH PORT MOTEL LAST YEAR HAS CHANGED HIS PLEA.  A STATEMENT FROM U S ATTORNEY BRAIN ALBRITTON SAYS THAT 36 YEAR OLD BILLY JACK COURTRIGHT PLEAD GUILTY JUNE 30^TH TO DISTRIBUTING OXYCODONE, THE USE OF WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF 15 YEAR OLD NICHOLAS BLOCK.  COURTRIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL THIS WEEK IN TAMPA, BUT WITH THE PLEA AGREEMENT HE WILL NOW FACE A MINIMUM MANDATORY TERM OF TWENTY YEARS AND UP TO LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON.  HIS WIFE, 36 YEAR OLD LINDA COURTRIGHT, NICHOLAS’ BIOLOGICAL MOTHER, FACES THE SAME PENALTIES WHEN BOTH ARE SENTENCED OCTOBER FIRST.  NICHOLAS’ BODY WAS FOUND IN THE ROOM OF THE NORTH PORT BUDGET INN IN JUNE OF 2009.  HIS SIBLINGS, AGES 10, 9, AND 7 CALLED 911 AND AUTHORITIES FOUND BOTH NICHOLAS AND LINDA UNCONSCIOUS.  LINDA WAS OK AND THE CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THE FAMILY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.