Local News in Brief : Reseda Woman Given 60 Days for Selling Drugs Near School

A young Reseda woman who pleaded guilty to selling cocaine was sentenced Thursday to 60 days in federal prison.

Laina Eileen Cormack, 18, was sentenced U.S. District Judge William D. Keller for selling 13 grams of cocaine to undercover officers near a Van Nuys high school last May 1 and May 7.

Deputy Federal Public Defender Dennis J. Landin said Cormack originally was charged with seven counts, including distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, a federal offense.

She pleaded guilty July 21 to two lesser counts of distributing cocaine and faced up to 40 years in prison on the charges.

Landin said the sentence was relatively light because of her age and lack of a record.

“The judge realized in her case she was so young and had had no prior contact with the law,” Landin said. “She had a supportive family and attempted to straighten out her life. I don’t think he felt she was a danger to the community.”

Cormack was sentenced just moments after Keller denied a request by co-defendant Jon Enders to withdraw his guilty plea.

Enders, 19, of Northridge, had pleaded guilty to one count of distributing cocaine and one count of distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, Landin said. Enders’ attorney, Gerald V. Scotti, argued that his client’s previous lawyer had pressured him into pleading guilty.

Keller ruled that Enders knew what he was doing and is responsible for the plea. He will be sentenced Nov. 16.