Ex-Justice Aide Sentenced on Drug Charges

A former top aide to U.S. Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in prison for cocaine possession and lying about using drugs when he applied for his Justice Department job.

Henry G. Barr, who served as Thornburgh’s liaison to other federal agencies, is believed to be the highest-ranking present or former federal official convicted in a drug case. He worked for Thornburgh in Washington and when Thornburgh was governor.

Barr, 47, also was fined $10,150. He is scheduled to surrender next Friday.

U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik said federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of from two to eight months. But the judge said the guidelines did not take into account the fact that Barr held a position of public trust.

Barr’s lawyer, Charles Scarlata, asked for probation or house arrest. He said Barr had lost his self-esteem, would lose his law license and had suffered because of publicity about his case.

Barr was convicted in February on one count of cocaine possession, two counts of making false statements to the government and one count of conspiracy.