Two Former Students Sentenced in Drug Trial

Yesterday morning two of the former University of Mary Washington students involved in the campus drug sting in October were sentenced to six months in jail by the Fredericksburg Circuit Court.

Derek Rhule, 19, and William Bleimeister, also 19, pled guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana with attempt to distribute.
The charges, originally felonies, were reduced to misdemeanors in a previous plea agreement.

In addition to six months in jail, both are required to pay a $500 fine and will have two years of probation following their jail sentences.
Both were taken into custody immediately following the 9 a.m. trial.

Bleimeister and Rhule were originally arrested on Sept. 3, 2010 when a package containing two pounds of marijuana was shipped from California to their residence in Fredericksburg.

Over the winter break, several of the other students facing drug charges also went before a judge.

Stuart Smith, 19, and William Crowder, 20, both had their preliminary hearings in Fredericksburg General District Court.

Their next hearings have been set for February.

Doug Searcy, vice president for student affairs, said, “The University fully supports the City of Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg PD in their efforts to provide a safe environment for the entire community.”