California chamber head checks into rehab after Naples arrest

August 07. 2003 12:29PM
California chamber head checks into rehab after Naples arrest

The Associated Press


FRESNO, Calif.


The head of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, facing drug charges in Florida, has checked himself into a rehabilitation program for alcohol dependency.

Stebbins Franklin Dean, the chamber's CEO, checked into a monthlong treatment center earlier this week, said Robert G. Carter, a Fresno lawyer and Dean's longtime friend.

Carter said alcohol is to blame for Dean's problems and that his friend doesn't have a drug problem.

"You will find that a lot of people who are alcoholics go out and do things they normally wouldn't do," Carter said.

Dean, 50, was arrested last month in Florida after Naples police allege he tried to buy crack cocaine from an undercover officer while on a business trip. Dean returned to Fresno within days after posting bond.

Dean has denied the allegations, saying it was a mix-up because he was trying to ask for a "cab" but the officer mistakenly thought the request was for "coke." (snip/...)

http://gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030807/APN/308070803&cachetime=5


Dean's mug shot!


Another account of Dean's Florida adventure:

(snip) Stebbins Dean
Crack Up in Naples!
By Thomas Hobbs, Staff Writer

FRESNO - Stebbins Dean, CEO of Fresno’s Chamber of Commerce, has been arrested in a police sting operation in Naples, Florida. The arrest was covered in the local Naples Daily News. Collier County sheriff’s report states that Dean negotiated purchase of what he believed to be crack cocaine from undercover officers on Saturday night.

At the time of his arrest, Dean told officers he was staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples while attending a conference for the national Chamber Executives' Leadership Forum.
According to court records, it’s not the first time that Dean has been charged with a felony. On November 2, 2002 he was arrested for DUI and illegal drug paraphernalia was found in his car.

Taken from the Sheriff’s Office report in Collier County, the following:

“Detective Fletcher was working in an undercover capacity and approached DEAN. Detective Fletcher asked DEAN, “What do you need?” DEAN walked over to Detective Fletcher and stated, “Eighty,” referring to the street terminology for eighty dollars worth of crack cocaine. Detective Fletcher is familiar with the street terminology utilized in this area involving the purchasing and distribution of narcotics, specifically crack cocaine. Detective Fletcher advised DEAN that he could sell him crack cocaine. Detective Fletcher asked if DEAN had the money. DEAN removed a wallet from his rear pants pocket and showed Detective Fletcher U.S. currency contained inside. Detective Fletcher showed DEAN three pieces of “fake” crack cocaine. DEAN advised Detective Fletcher that he did not believe that the pieces that Detective Fletcher showed him appeared to be eighty dollars worth of crack cocaine. Detective Fletcher agreed and stated that he could sell the crack cocaine for fifty dollars. DEAN advised Detective Fletcher that he only had forty-two dollars to purchase the crack cocaine that Detective Fletcher had shown DEAN. Detective Fletcher agreed to sell the three pieces of “fake” crack cocaine for forty-two dollars. DEAN then handed Detective Fletcher two-twenty dollar bills and 2-one dollar bills of U.S. currency ($42.00) for the purchase of three pieces of crack cocaine. Detective Fletcher handed DEAN three “fake” pieces of crack cocaine to complete the transaction.” (snip/...)

http://www.fresnorepublican.com/dean_arrest.html

Greater illumination from Dean on his Naples night on the town:

(snip) NAPLES, Fla. - The head of the Fresno (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce is facing a felony drug charge after police said he tried to buy crack cocaine, but the official insisted Monday that he has been wrongly accused.

Fresno chamber CEO Stebbins Franklin Dean, 50, was free on $2,500 bond Monday after being arrested Saturday on one count of purchasing cocaine. But Dean said Monday there never was any purchase and he doesn't know why he was arrested after stopping to ask a man directions on how to get out of a neighborhood near Naples' swank downtown.

Dean, reached by telephone at his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton where he was attending a business conference, said he has never taken drugs and wasn't trying to buy them.

"I wasn't trying to buy anything, I was trying to get home," Dean said. (snip/...)

http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:Meq2tgpL7zMJ:www.drugpolicycentral.com/bot/article/bayarea5568.htm+%22Stebbins+Franklin+Dean%22+%2B+Republican&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

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A funny article from the bottom of the link immediately above, from the same area, different guy:

(snip) ......The strong feelings may stem from a 1998 citation Samuelian received for loitering to solicit a prostitute in a known area of prostitution in Fresno.

He was stopped in the same area in February but was not issued a citation after city attorneys decided there wasn't enough evidence. At the time, Samuelian said he was lost while looking for the Fresno County Farm Bureau, where he intended to drop off fliers.

While the March 2004 primary is months away, Samuelian already faces two challengers from his own party in the election.

Some local Republicans say he has caused Fresno County to become the butt of jokes.

"He's an embarrassment to our community and to the Republican Party," Smittcamp said. (snip/)

gives great documentation of what the police say happened vs his... "I said cab... he thought I said coke"... harder to pull that bs answer off when you read there was a negotiation. Also the item that he had been arrested before on DUI -AND that drug paraphanalia had been in his car. Sort of sets up the idea that there is a little bit of a pattern here.

"I was just trying to get home" says he... while the police say initially asked for "80" (code word for eighty bucks worth of crack) - the cops showed him fake crack - he says that doesn't look like 80 worth, cops say, well you can have it for fifty...

So someone is lying.... somehow I think in the end this will be a bit better documented than a he said/she said situation. Though the chamber guy seems to want to play it that way.

nt

kills

Neat, discreet, and you won't do worse than rehab. By the way, wouldn't they make a lovely couple?

rocknation

Great photo btw ... too good for words really! :D

I'm sure much worse is being swept under the rug. Sorry you Fresno DUers (I belienve there are a couple), but I think the heat of the valley fries the resident's brains!